Renfrewshire MP Jim Sheridan has submitted an Early Day Motion (EDM) to the House of Commons calling for the licensing of gangmasters.

The move has pleased both the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), the Transport & General Workers Union (T&G) and gangmasters keen for change.

"We are delighted with the EDM and even if it doesn’t secure a private members’ bill, it keeps the profile of the whole issue high and keeps the pressure up on government," said FPC chief executive Doug Henderson.

The FPC has been working as part of a cross-industry group to achieve licensing and the group has developed a draft code of practice for gangmasters and other guidelines for its implementation. Trials of the systems are underway with growers at 12 different locations and should be complete by the end of March. "We have made a lot of solid progress and we have been given resources from a number of government offices," said Henderson.

T&G has welcomed the motion and is urging all MPs to sign up to it. "Voluntary measures have failed to deliver for those who have no choice but to work for gangmasters," said Tony Woodley, T&G general secretary. "…We believe the time has come for legislation which will introduce licensing and enforceable regulation."

The move has also been welcomed by gangmaster Zad Padda of Fusion Personnel, who has been working through the Ethical Trading Initiative on the cross-industry working party. "I am generally supportive, but the proof of the pudding will be in what comes out at the: the EDM means we are only in the initial stages," said Padda. He has been meeting with other gangmasters on the issue of licensing and regulation. "Several other labour-providers who want to see change for the better within our industry have met together and what we are calling for is greater regulation, a level playing-field with an end to illegal practices and undercutting, and we want to get away from the use of the term gangmaster," said Padda.

The EDM will get a reading on February 27.

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