Annex 2
Working Group to address labour conditions
for seasonal and foreign labour in the UK Food Industry
TERMS OF
REFERENCE
At the initial meeting of the Working Group
to address labour conditions for seasonal and foreign labour in
the UK Food Industry on 23 September 2002, the following Terms
of Reference were agreed to guide its future work.
1. To consider the case for a statutory
licensing and registration scheme that will effectively regulate
the labour practices of providers of temporary labour to farms
and packhouses and first tier food-processing facilities in the
UK.
2. To lobby for new legislation to support
such a scheme.
3. To consider the viability of a new cross-industry
voluntary initiative that that will effectively regulate the labour
practices of providers of temporary labour to farms and packhouses
and first tier food processing facilities in the UK.
4. To ensure that any scheme proposed by
the group fully considers:
4.1 the role and responsibilities of retailers,
growers, packers and manufacturers of food as well as relevant
statutory bodies;
4.2 the necessary monitoring and verification
of implementation;
4.3 the impact upon the supply of agricultural
labour to agricultural and food service industry;
4.4 existing best practice that can be learned
from the UK and elsewhere;
4.5 measures to ensure the effective implementation
of any such considerations in 4.1-4.4.
5. To consider other measures such as improved
access to information and best practices, that would improve the
ability of government, retailers, growers, packers and other suppliers
of food products to act responsibly in order to mitigate the problems
associated with poor and illegal practices by gangmasters.
6. To communicate the Working Group's progress
and findings to all relevant stakeholder organisations.
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