The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) have tightened its grip on gangmasters supplying this year’s flower-picking season, by revoking a licence before the season began.

The GLA immediately revoked the licence of Lincolnshire-based Powerstaff Recruitment Limited, on discovering it was employing Jonathan Beckson, whose own licence was revoked in 2008.

Beckson’s licence was revoked following serious exploitation and threats and Ms Magdalena Gojtowska - a known associate of Beckson - was herself found to be influencing a number of businesses who had their licences revoked in 2009.

David Quinn of Powerstaff could not demonstrate an understanding of how to run the Spalding-based gangmaster business and openly admitted he leant heavily on Beckson. While Quinn was supposed to be in charge of the business, the GLA was convinced he was not and felt he was being used as a front to allow previously banned gangmasters back into the industry.

Quinn’s business had been trying to source contracts to supply workers for the current flower-picking season in Devon and Cornwall. Gojtowska and Beckson had previously supplied labour during the flower-picking season.

Quinn has been declared as not "fit and proper" to hold a GLA licence, and banned from holding a licence for at least two years.

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA, said: “The actions of the flower industry and especially some of the big suppliers is a model that should be followed elsewhere. They have worked proactively with the GLA to ensure that the industry is no longer tarnished by exploitation of workers.

“We have banned these people from supplying workers in GLA sectors for a good reason and we cannot allow them to find a back-door route to continue. They have a history of serious exploitation and it is our job to protect workers.”

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