CALLS for a new law to register the "gangmasters" who provide casual labour

to farmers have won backing in Worcestershire.

Mid-Worcestershire Tory MP Peter Luff is supporting legislation designed to end possible "exploitation".

It sets down minimum standards for safety, as well as other employment rights.

His backing for the Private Member's Bill comes two months after three foreign farm workers were killed and six were injured when the vehicle they were in was involved in a collision with a train on an unmanned railway crossing at Charlton, near Evesham.

Shamed

Mr Luff, who was a passenger on the train, admitted the Bill was unlikely to become law.

But he hopes Ministers will be "shamed" into re-introducing the Bill, which was tabled by Boston and Skegness MP Mark Simmonds yesterday, when enough Parliamentary time is available for it to reach the statute books.

"Reputable gangmasters look after their staff well and keep local growers and food producers working," said Mr Luff.

"Other gangmasters exploit their casual staff shamefully and avoid taxes, paying much less than the minimum wage, housing their workers in appalling conditions, intimidating and threatening them and, as we saw in the recent accident at Charlton, exposing them to very real dangers too."

Adnan Karim, the minibus driver in the Charlton crash, has been charged with three counts of manslaughter and is due to appear at Worcester Crown Court for a plea and directions hearing on Monday, October 6.