Construction union UCATT have renewed their call for the Gangmasters Licensing Act to be extended to the construction industry, after conducting an investigation and discovering that a gangmaster who had recently lost their licence had construction links.

This week the Gangmaster Licensing Authority (GLA) stripped Timberland Homes Ltd, trading as Timberland Homes Recruitment of their gangmasters licence.

The company based in Brandon Suffolk had been supplying labour to flower picking companies. It was discovered that the mainly Polish workers were paid 4p per each bunch of flowers picked, some workers earned just £24 for a nine hour shift. Workers were not free to leave and were threatened, with a letter saying they or their family would have to pay £700, if they left the contract early. Workers did not give their consent for accommodation and transport charges. They were also forced to share unlicensed substandard accommodation.

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Following an investigation by UCATT's Eastern Region, it has been discovered that Timberland Homes also have construction links. Immediately adjacent to the companies registered office and headquarters is a construction site. UCATT has photographic evidence that the site is signed Timberland Homes.

Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "The treatment these workers have endured is entirely disgraceful. I congratulate the GLA on its sterling work on uncovering these abuses. However I cannot believe that a company which treated one set of workers so poorly is entirely above board and a good employer in another sector. It is crazy situation that the GLA is barred from investigating all aspects of this appalling company."

The GLA are only able to investigate and licence gangmasters operating in the agricultural, food processing and shellfish collection sectors. If a gangmaster is stripped of its license in one of these sectors and also operate s in non-licensed sectors, the GLA is not allowed to investigate.

(CD/JM)