Good news on gangmasters for shearers
The National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC) is delighted that sheep shearers are not going to need a gangmaster’s licence which would have cost them at least £2,000 a year.
The Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) has accepted the strong case that shearers should be included in the Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations 2006, put to it by the NAAC, working closely with the National Farmers Union, the National Sheep Association and the British Wool Marketing Board. This will mean that a contractor supplying shearers and providing the machinery will not need a licence.
The NAAC’s Chief Executive, Jill Hewitt, said “The sheep shearing sector is already a legitimate, well-legislated area of employment that cannot sustain such disproportionate extra cost for what is a very short, seasonal operation. It is the norm for overseas shearers to come to the UK on either a Work Permit – closely scrutinised by Work Permits UK at a cost to the contractor of £153 a shearer – or on a holiday visa.
“The UK sheep industry is already under serious threat from a lack of skilled shearers. With wool prices at rock bottom and exchange rates discouraging overseas shearers, this is already a job under severe pressure. We were extremely concerned that shearing contractors would be unable to afford a licence and that a lack of a sheep shearing service would inevitably have had a serious impact on animal welfare. The NAAC is pleased that the GLA has revised its guidance and will support the GLA in ensuring that unscrupulous labour providers do not exploit the legislation.