Margaret Beels OBE
Biography
Margaret Beels OBE was Director of Labour Market Enforcement (DLME) from 22 November 2021 to 5 April 2026, when the role of DLME was abolished. The Director of Labour Market Enforcement was responsible for setting priorities for the three enforcement bodies, which have now formed the Fair Work Agency:
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Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS)
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Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA)
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HMRC National Minimum Wage (HMRC-NMW)
Margaret’s career began in the Department of Energy. From 1987 to 1990 she played a key role in delivering the privatisation of the electricity industry in England and Wales. Margaret spent 4 years running the electricity market before joining British Gas as Head of Compliance.
When British Gas demerged, Margaret joined Centrica and became Director of Scottish Gas.
Margaret became Chair of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) in July 2011. GLA was formed in 2006 following the Morecambe Bay tragedy in which 23 Chinese cockle pickers were drowned. It was set up to run a statutory licensing scheme which upholds the rights of temporary workers in agriculture, horticulture food packing and shell fishing.
From 2014 to 2016 Margaret was much involved in GLA’s move from being sponsored by Defra to sponsorship by the Home Office and then, in the transformation of the GLA into the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) with the expansion of its powers to include the investigation, across the whole labour market, into forced and compulsory labour as defined in the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Margaret was awarded an OBE in the New Years’ Honours in 2020 for services to modern slavery and labour exploitation.
Previous roles in government
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Director of Labour Market Enforcement