Gangmasters have licences revoked

Three gangmasters who supplied workers for a vegetable packing firm have had their licences revoked by inspectors.

A raid at the Worcestershire warehouse found one worker who sliced his finger open was made to continue after putting a piece of clingfilm over the wound.

One gangmaster, Birmingham-based A to Z Employment Services, has been told to stop trading immediately.

The two others, which have not been named, can continue trading while appeals take place.

The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA), which carried out the raid, said those appeals could last several months.

'Seriously unroadworthy'

The unannounced raid, which also involved West Merica Police and the Border and Immigration Agency, took place at the Simms and Woods warehouse in Wyre Piddle, near Evesham, on 11 December.

Simms and Wood said it had immediately stopped using A to Z Employment Services.

A spokesman for the GLA said Sparkhill-based A to Z Employment Services had been using an illegal and "seriously unroadworthy" minibus to transport workers.

The spokesman added that a representative of that agency had instructed a worker to put the clingfilm on a serious cut and to continue working on the food production line.

The appeals concerning the other two gangmasters involve inaccurate records of workers' details.

If a gangmaster continues trading after it has had its licence revoked, they could face penalties of up to 10 years in jail.