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Gangmaster defends worker claims | Gangmaster defends worker claims |
(about 8 hours later) | |
A gangmaster who supplied workers for flower picking in Cornwall has spoken out after having his licence revoked. | A gangmaster who supplied workers for flower picking in Cornwall has spoken out after having his licence revoked. |
The Gangmaster's Licensing Authority (GLA) took Jonathan Beckson's licence after finding evidence of "forced labour, intimidation and abuse". | The Gangmaster's Licensing Authority (GLA) took Jonathan Beckson's licence after finding evidence of "forced labour, intimidation and abuse". |
These included low pay, overcrowded accommodation and threats to the workers' families. | These included low pay, overcrowded accommodation and threats to the workers' families. |
Mr Beckson, of Timberland Homes Recruitment, said he was disappointed and surprised at the decision. | Mr Beckson, of Timberland Homes Recruitment, said he was disappointed and surprised at the decision. |
The Suffolk-based company supplied a number of farms in Cornwall and Angus in Scotland with foreign, mainly Polish, workers. | The Suffolk-based company supplied a number of farms in Cornwall and Angus in Scotland with foreign, mainly Polish, workers. |
Owners of one of the farms became suspicious after talking to workers and contacted the GLA, who carried out an investigation. | Owners of one of the farms became suspicious after talking to workers and contacted the GLA, who carried out an investigation. |
It found workers who claimed they were paid £24 for a nine-hour day, receiving four pence per bunch of flowers picked. | It found workers who claimed they were paid £24 for a nine-hour day, receiving four pence per bunch of flowers picked. |
If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for seasonal agricultural workers Jonathan Beckson | If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for seasonal agricultural workers Jonathan Beckson |
They also found some of the accommodation did not have enough beds or toilets for the numbers housed there. | They also found some of the accommodation did not have enough beds or toilets for the numbers housed there. |
The GLA said workers had received a letter telling them they were not free to leave before the end of their contract without paying £700 and, if they did not have the money, this would be recovered from their families in their home country. | The GLA said workers had received a letter telling them they were not free to leave before the end of their contract without paying £700 and, if they did not have the money, this would be recovered from their families in their home country. |
Mr Beckson, who is Director of Timberland Homes Recruitment, plans to appeal against the GLA decision. | Mr Beckson, who is Director of Timberland Homes Recruitment, plans to appeal against the GLA decision. |
Speaking to BBC News he said: "We look after our workers. The main point is to have the same people coming back each year and we have a high number that come back. | Speaking to BBC News he said: "We look after our workers. The main point is to have the same people coming back each year and we have a high number that come back. |
"The accommodation we put them in is to a very high standard. I stay in it. If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for seasonal agricultural workers." | "The accommodation we put them in is to a very high standard. I stay in it. If it's good enough for me, it's good enough for seasonal agricultural workers." |
He said workers were paid for each bunch of flowers picked so their daily wage depended on how hard they worked and the £700 fee was for money workers had been advanced. | He said workers were paid for each bunch of flowers picked so their daily wage depended on how hard they worked and the £700 fee was for money workers had been advanced. |
He claimed the GLA had not contacted him about its findings or its decision to revoke his licence. | He claimed the GLA had not contacted him about its findings or its decision to revoke his licence. |
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