The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) ñ the representative body for the UK recruitment industry ñ has today pledged its support to implementing the key recommendations in the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) report on worker exploitation in the black economy. At the same time, the REC has highlighted the importance of making a clear distinction between rogue gangmasters and legitimate employment agencies that abide to industry regulations and Codes of Practice.
Commenting on the Foundationís ëContemporary Slavery in the UKí report, REC Director of External Relations Tom Hadley says:
ìThe report highlights the need for employers to be discerning when choosing which labour providers they use and to ensure that companies they work with through the supply chain are equally discerning. This is a message that the REC and all legitimate recruitment agencies have been actively promoting for many years.
ìInstances of worker exploitation such as those identified in the report must be eradicated through effective enforcement of existing regulations. Addressing the black economy is a priority across the whole of the EU. Ensuring that workers ñ particularly migrant workers ñ are fully aware of their rights is equally important which is why the REC has been involved in ongoing awareness-raising campaigns across some of the new EU Member States.
ìIn addition REC is already working with the DTI, GLA, the Home Office and other stakeholders to protect vulnerable workers and to identify rogue gangmasters. The recommendations of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation must be viewed in light of some of the recent policy developments ñ in particular the Gangmaster Licensing Act and the DTIís campaign on protecting vulnerable workers - that have already been brought in to address the issues identified in the reportî.
ìFor instance the DTIís consultation on protecting vulnerable agency workers released last week hones in on tackling abuse related to loans, accommodation and travel services which some agencies may provide. The provision of these services is not in itself a problem. Instead, abuses arise where workers are tied into these services.î
ìThe term ëgangmasterí is often misleading as this can be used to describe perfectly legitimate labour providers. It is vital to make a clear distinction between legitimate recruitment businesses and outlaw operators that routinely exploit workers and undercut legitimate providers. Raising standards is at the heart of the RECís mission and we are fully behind measures to support more vulnerable workers.
ìWhere vulnerable agency workers are exploited there is a need focus on the enforcement of the current Employment Agency Act and other regulations rather than further legislation.î
Joseph Rowntree Foundation report
Effective enforcement is key to addressing exploitation issues, says REC
