Gangmasters Licensing Authority to set up its first legal services panel

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) is to set up its first panel of law firms to provide legal support to its in-house team.

The GLA, a non-departmental public body of the Home Office, said up to three preferred suppliers would be appointed to represent the authority in court and provide advice for the next three years. It added that the agreement could be worth up to £30,000 per year.

Matters that the appointed companies may be called on to assist with include:

  • Advising on licence decisions
  • Representing the GLA during appeals against licence decisions
  • Advising on judicial reviews
  • Employment law advice
  • Advice on Freedom of Information requests
  • Policy advice
  • Employment Law Advice (for GLA as employer).

The deadline for submitting formal tender documents is noon on 12 September 2016. The GLA said it planned to notify the successful companies by the end of the same month.

The GLA administers a licensing scheme under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 regulating the supply of labour to the farming, food processing and shellfish gathering sectors. Its remit is to be extended under the Immigration Act 2016, which will see it become the Gangmasters and Labour Market Abuse Authority, with stronger powers to tackle labour exploitation across the economy.