Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004

The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (c. 11) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom regulating agency workers.

Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004^[1]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make provision for the licensing of activities involving the supply or use of workers in connection with agricultural work, the gathering of wild creatures and wild plants, the harvesting of fish from fish farms, and certain processing and packaging; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2004 c. 11
Territorial extent	England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland[2]
Dates
Royal assent	8 July 2004
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

Background

The legislation was proposed soon after 23 Chinese cockle-pickers died as a result of the Morecambe Bay cockling disaster.^[3]

Legislative passage

The legislation was passed as a private member's bill.^[4]

Provisions

The act establishes a system of registration and licensing for employers.^[5]

Those operating without a licence can receive a sentence of up to 10 years, and farmers and food companies can face a sentence of up to 6 months.^[6]

The authority regulates the agriculture, shellfish and processing and packing sectors.^[3]

Commencement

The following commencement orders have been made for this act:

• Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2004 (SI 2004/2857)
• Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2005 (SI 2005/447)
• Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2006 (SI 2006/2406)
• Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 4) Order 2006 (SI 2006/2906)
• Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2007 (]]SI 2007]]/695)

Reception

The bill was supported by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.^[7]

See also

• UK agency worker law
• Agency Workers Directive
• Employment Agencies Act 1973