A STOURPORT labour provider has been refused a licence by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority - GLA.

The licence application by AK Link UK was rejected by the GLA, whose chief executive, Mike Wilson, said: "The authority have set the standards that all labour providers must meet.

"If they cannot demonstrate that they are compliant they will not get a licence."

Anybody who supplies workers to the agriculture, shellfish gathering and food and drink processing and packaging sectors in the UK needs to be licensed by the GLA or risk prosecution and imprisonment of up to 10 years.

Seven Worcestershire labour providers have met the required standards and supplying labour to farms, pack houses and processing plants.

The GLA was set up to curb exploitation of workers in the agriculture, horticulture, shellfish gathering and associated processing and packaging industries.

Any business refused a licence has the right to reapply.