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| Banned firm's workers 'scavenged' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A firm which left its Bulgarian workers to scavenge for food in a field has had its gangmasters licence revoked. | |
| The 40 workers, from Baltic Work Team Limited in Redruth, Cornwall, were not paid for 35 days and had been eating some of the crops they were picking. | |
| The firm had already had its licence revoked by the Gangmaster Licensing Authority - but was allowed to carry on until 24 August after an appeal. | |
| However, a second inquiry led to the licence being withdrawn immediately. | |
| Baltic Work Team Limited, based on the Cardrew Industrial estate, has three weeks to appeal against the ruling. | Baltic Work Team Limited, based on the Cardrew Industrial estate, has three weeks to appeal against the ruling. |
| The Gangmaster Licensing Authority (GLA) has been investigating the company for a number of months, it said. | |
| In February, the authority successfully argued Baltic should have its licence taken away, but the company appealed. | In February, the authority successfully argued Baltic should have its licence taken away, but the company appealed. |
| It is unacceptable that the workers were left to scavenge in fields for food as they had not been paid for 35 days Paul Whitehouse,GLA chairman Now Baltic's directors face a 10-year prison sentence if they flout the latest ruling. | |
| Paul Whitehouse, GLA Chairman, said the workers were so terrified of threats to send them home, they ended up scavenging the potatoes and courgettes they were picking. | |
| According to Mr Whitehouse they were also forced to work for a day without access to food or water. | |
| He added: "Baltic must stop trading immediately. I find it incredulous that a business who had been given the chance at the appeal hearing to put their house in order and re-apply for a new licence would not take this opportunity." | |
| He added: "Revoking a licence with immediate effect is a serious decision and is only taken when we find significant non-compliance. | He added: "Revoking a licence with immediate effect is a serious decision and is only taken when we find significant non-compliance. |
| "The GLA was set up to curb the exploitation of workers and in the case of Baltic Work Team Ltd, we had to take action immediately to protect the workers. | "The GLA was set up to curb the exploitation of workers and in the case of Baltic Work Team Ltd, we had to take action immediately to protect the workers. |
| "It is unacceptable that the workers were left to scavenge in fields for food as they had not been paid for 35 days. | "It is unacceptable that the workers were left to scavenge in fields for food as they had not been paid for 35 days. |
| "It was only through the intervention of the GLA that the workers finally got their money." | "It was only through the intervention of the GLA that the workers finally got their money." |
| Anyone who supplies workers to the agriculture, shellfish gathering, food and drink processing or packaging sectors in the UK needs to be licensed by the GLA. | Anyone who supplies workers to the agriculture, shellfish gathering, food and drink processing or packaging sectors in the UK needs to be licensed by the GLA. |
| It has been operating for just under a year and has revoked almost 30 licences. | It has been operating for just under a year and has revoked almost 30 licences. |
| This is only the second time it has been done with immediate effect. | This is only the second time it has been done with immediate effect. |
| BBC news was unable to contact anybody from the company for a response. |