Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority

The GLAA is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), sponsored by the Home Office, sometimes also described as an Arm’s Length Body. The GLAA’s sole office is in Nottingham which includes licensing, intelligence, finance, risk and information assurance, IT, communications, and HR. Just under 60 per cent of the teams are field-based and undertake intelligence, investigation, and compliance work across the UK.

Our mission is working in partnership to protect vulnerable and exploited workers. We are a regulatory, law enforcement and compliance body charged with preventing, detecting, and tackling labour exploitation across the UK.

There are around 1,0003 licensed gangmasters, based in both the UK and overseas, who supply temporary contracted workers in the regulated sector. In this arena, the GLAA can use civil inspection powers as well as criminal enforcement. Our officers conduct application and compliance inspections using a licencing standards framework throughout the duration of a licence – ensuring workers are protected and there is a level playing field for compliant operators.

Our investigative teams are empowered to investigate offences of operating without a licence or using an unlicensed operator;some officers are also authorised to exercise wider powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) in relation to labour 

market offences. The GLAA is an Arms Length Body sponsored by the 

Home Office, but which is operationally independent and governed by a non-executive board, consisting of six members plus the chairperson. The Board provides scrutiny, oversight, and governance of the 

GLAA, assuring the work of the Chief Executive Officer and leadership team. The Board is supported in this work by its Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) and its People and Culture Committee.

https://www.gla.gov.uk