Investigation uncovers ‘shocking’ working conditions of Polish migrants

The Polish migrants were threatened with huge deductions from wages and were even subject to threats against their families if they stopped working for the gangmaster.

Workers were forced to endure ‘abhorrent living conditions’, with not enough beds for the 43 workers, and just four toilets.

Jonathan Beckson, director of Timberland Homes Ltd, was supplying the workers to Winchester Growers in Cornwall and a flower picking consortium, Grampian Growers near Montrose in Scotland.

Jim Sheridan, MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire North said: “I would like to congratulate those who uncovered this frightening story of worker abuse, something which seems unbelievable in 21st century Britain.

“This abuse will not be tolerated and I would like to see the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) use all of their powers to stamp out worker exploitation in the UK.”

Paul Whitehouse, chairman of the GLA said: “There is another world out there that the vast majority of us are lucky enough not to see. Forced labour, intimidation and abuse at work is something nobody should experience but we are uncovering it too frequently.

“Some labour providers are doing a great job in a tough industry, but the rogue gangmasters are making workers lives a misery and it is these crooks that we are committed to catching.”

The GLA has now passed on the case to the UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC), whilst reports regarding the vehicles’ use in transporting the workers have been submitted to Scottish Procurators’ Fiscal to consider a prosecution.

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