Ethical standards and 100% compliance continue to be the foundation of every decision Goldteam make; evident in our impressive list of accreditations and memberships. Goldteam is passionate about recruitment and proactive in our approach, continually investing and developing our technologies to ensure that we remain one of the most trusted and consistent recruitment organisations in the UK.
Our recruitment solutions are consistently monitored and updated to guarantee compliance to all applicable legislations and quality standards. This is done to protect our candidates rights as well as to assure that Goldteam and our clients are always working within the law’s requirements. Read on to learn about Goldteam’s approach on the major laws and regulations affecting you including: UK Border Agency (UKBA), Agency Workers Regulation (AWR), Gangmaster Licensing Authority (GLA) and Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI).
Legal Rights to Work and ID Verification with the UK Border Agency (UKBA)
Our unique and robust ID verification process guarantees that all candidates that are registered and processed through Goldteam are confirmed to have the legal rights to work in the UK. Hardware traditionally used by border and immigration control agencies has been integrated into our system. This hardware scans passports and ID documents using ultraviolet technology. It checks the digital chip, watermark, provides an infrared scan as well as checks off passport numbers against databases held for over 200 countries and counting. Use of this system provides automated feedback relating to the authenticity of the passport or ID documents at a rate of 99.9% accuracy within a minimal 60 seconds. The UK Home Office underwrites the eligibility of any individual whose passport or ID documents were approved through this system.
Agency Workers Regulation (AWR)
The Agency Workers Regulation or AWR was implemented in the UK on the 1st of October 2011. AWR rights apply to a temporary worker after working a 12 week qualifying period. Its purpose is to provide temporary workers with equal treatment in terms of basic employment and working conditions as if they had been employed directly to do the same job. For many of our temporary workers, AWR had an incredibly positive effect.
The benefits of AWR compliance for temporary workers include equal treatment in terms of: Pay, Working hours, Overtime, Breaks, Holidays, Access to training, and Access to collective facilities.
Our unique cloud based system Goldtime® provides auditable, accurate, real-time information that monitors and fully satisfies these requirements. It alerts us as soon as you are eligible for AWR benefits and we automatically assign these to you.
Gangmaster Licensing Authority (GLA)
The Gangmaster Licensing Authority or GLA was set up to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation. Goldteam is fully licensed under the GLA scheme. In order to meet the GLA licensing standards, a business must satisfy stringent criteria covering health and safety, pay, transport and training. Licensed businesses must also be able to prove that they are fit to hold a licence and that tax, National Insurance and VAT regulations are consistently met.
Being GLA compliant provides a range of benefits:
· Workers receive the conditions, fair treatment, benefits, and pay that they are entitled to.
· Labour providers aren’t undercut by those who avoid tax or pay less than minimum wage resulting in a raise in overall industry standards.
· Labour users can be sure that their workers come from a legitimate, approved and licensed provider.
· Consumers can enjoy the benefit of knowing their food has been picked and packed in an ethical environment.
Our Goldtime® system enables real-time auditing of temporary workers information to ensure that we are consistently compliant and meet all of the standards of the GLA. Ethical values are held in the highest regard at Goldteam for both our clients and our workers and we hold the badge of GLA licensed status as a mark of honour.
Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI)
The Ethical Trade Initiative or ETI is an alliance of companies, trade unions and voluntary organisations functioning in partnership. The partnership strives to improve the working lives of poor and vulnerable people across the globe that make or grow consumer goods. Goldteam fully supports the ETI with a commitment to adopting an ethical code of labour practice regarding issues such as wages, hours of work and health and safety.
Goldteam is a business of the people for the people. Your rights are just as important to us as our own and we work consistently to assure that you receive every protection and benefit that you are entitled to. To learn more about Goldteam and our commitments to you, visit our Jobseekers website: http://goldteam.co.uk/jobseekers.php