Banned firm's workers 'scavenged'

A firm which left its Bulgarian workers to scavenge for food in a field has had its gangmasters licence revoked.

The 40 workers, from Baltic Work Team Limited in Redruth, Cornwall, were not paid for 35 days and had been eating some of the crops they were picking.

The firm had already had its licence revoked by the Gangmaster Licensing Authority - but was allowed to carry on until 24 August after an appeal.

However, a second inquiry led to the licence being withdrawn immediately.

Baltic Work Team Limited, based on the Cardrew Industrial estate, has three weeks to appeal against the ruling.

The Gangmaster Licensing Authority (GLA) has been investigating the company for a number of months, it said.

In February, the authority successfully argued Baltic should have its licence taken away, but the company appealed.

It is unacceptable that the workers were left to scavenge in fields for food as they had not been paid for 35 days Paul Whitehouse, GLA chairman

Now Baltic's directors face a 10-year prison sentence if they flout the latest ruling.

Paul Whitehouse, GLA Chairman, said the workers were so terrified of threats to send them home, they ended up scavenging the potatoes and courgettes they were picking.

According to Mr Whitehouse they were also forced to work for a day without access to food or water.

He added: "Baltic must stop trading immediately. I find it incredulous that a business who had been given the chance at the appeal hearing to put their house in order and re-apply for a new licence would not take this opportunity."

He added: "Revoking a licence with immediate effect is a serious decision and is only taken when we find significant non-compliance.

"The GLA was set up to curb the exploitation of workers and in the case of Baltic Work Team Ltd, we had to take action immediately to protect the workers.

"It is unacceptable that the workers were left to scavenge in fields for food as they had not been paid for 35 days.

"It was only through the intervention of the GLA that the workers finally got their money."

Anyone who supplies workers to the agriculture, shellfish gathering, food and drink processing or packaging sectors in the UK needs to be licensed by the GLA.

It has been operating for just under a year and has revoked almost 30 licences.

This is only the second time it has been done with immediate effect.

BBC news was unable to contact anybody from the company for a response.