A gangmaster’s reign of abuse and exploitation ended after his licence was revoked for numerous serious breaches of workers’ rights.

A Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) operation to investigate Saphire Trading Ltd in Southampton uncovered “persistent and systematic exploitation of vulnerable workers” including “a real risk of injury or death” and numerous issues regarding pay.

The operation involved unannounced inspections and in total took over seven weeks to complete because of the workers’ reluctance to provide statements for fear of losing their job and their accommodation.

In a statement, the GLA said Saphire Trading had showed a “wholesale and blatant disregard” of the licensing standards. “It was evident from the scale and the extent of the breaches that the gangmaster placed his workers at risk not only in the workplace but also in the accommodation that was provided for them,” it said.

Among the offences were a lack of fire doors in an 11-bedroom house for workers, a blocked exit and a fire alarm turned off with the key removed.

There was evidence uncovered that tended to show that workers were afraid of giving evidence to the inspector for fear of losing their jobs and accommodation.

None of the buses used to transport workers were registered as Public Service Vehicles, only one in 10 properties had a valid Gas Certificate while workers were not routinely given pay slips and had no National Insurance numbers and the workers were not registered with HM Revenue & Customs to avoid paying tax.

Deductions from wages for accommodation and transport were made without the workers' consent and cash was taken directly from wages, workers had not received pay for up to ten days in some cases and payslips often contained false information; there was no credible evidence that Statutory Sick Pay was being paid to workers.

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA said: “It was for the bravery of the workers who suffered at the hands of Saphire Trading Ltd in coming forward and making statements to the GLA that helped us to get this result. Other workers who are in a similar situation should take note and contact us -we will always treat information in confidence and protect their identity.

“Tell us where the problems are and we can do the rest. We have proved that we can shut down the rogues and there will always be work with the many legitimate gangmasters who treat workers with the respect they deserve.”

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