Parliamentary.ai

Overview

This bill aims to expand the Gangmasters Licensing Authority's (GLA) power to regulate employment agencies across all sectors of the UK economy. Currently, the GLA's authority is limited; this bill seeks to broaden its reach to combat exploitation in various industries.

Description

The Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 is amended to give the GLA the power to:

• Review the types of work currently covered by the Act and recommend expanding the GLA's jurisdiction to other sectors.
• Regulate employment agencies in sectors beyond those currently covered, including those recommended in the review.

The bill includes a six-month delay between Royal Assent and the law coming into effect, allowing time for implementation and planning.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify direct government spending figures. However, the expansion of the GLA's regulatory role will likely lead to increased operational costs associated with monitoring and enforcement across a wider range of sectors.

Groups Affected

• Employment Agencies: All employment agencies will be subject to increased regulatory scrutiny and potentially licensing requirements.
• Workers: Workers in sectors currently unregulated by the GLA may see increased protections against exploitation.
• Businesses: Businesses employing workers via agencies will face new compliance obligations.
• Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA): The GLA will have significantly expanded responsibilities and increased workload.