An application for a Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) licence in Birmingham has been refused on the grounds of ill preparation.

Mrs Paramjit Kaur, who applied for a GLA licence for Birmingham-based Stardust Contracts Limited, has been told that her application has been refused due to under-preparation and the fact she had given no thought to how to run the business.

Kaur was also told that trading without a licence is a prosecutable offence with penalties of up to ten years' imprisonment and a fine.

A GLA statement said: “We expect an application for a licence to show systems in place that demonstrate the ability to meet each and every section of the GLA licensing standards. With no paperwork prepared for the inspection and no previous experience in the GLA sector, the application failed five of the nine sections of our licensing standards.

“Other concerns relate to her declared title of co-director when no other individual was named on the licence application.”

In the past, the GLA has refused a number of licence applications from individuals believed to be applying on behalf of others who are trying to hide their involvement in the business.

GLA chairman Paul Whitehouse said: “This lady has wasted her money in applying for a GLA licence when she has put no effort into setting up the business.

“A gangmaster is responsible for the welfare of workers and we need to see that this responsibility is taken seriously.”

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