REC support for DTIís measures on protecting vulnerable workers

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) welcomes the Governmentís consultation on ëProtecting vulnerable agency workersí. This consultation highlights its commitment to protecting vulnerable workers whilst allowing recruitment agencies more freedom to get on with what they do best ñ getting people into work.

Commenting on the new consultation, Marcia Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of the REC said: ìThis consultation truly reflects the years of hard work put in by the REC to improve the image of the recruitment industry. The DTI now fully recognises the vital role of temporary work in the labour market and its contribution to the wider economy.

ìIt is excellent news for the recruitment industry that the DTI is reducing administrative burdens on recruitment agencies. The consultation outlines some common sense measures on regulation 21 designed to reduce administration on assignments under five days.î

Marcia added: ìRaising standards is at the heart of the RECís mission and we are fully behind the DTIís measures to support more vulnerable workers. The REC recognises the need to ensure that recruitment agencies are acting correctly and, to this end, has recruited a team of four enforcement officers who will check that REC members are abiding by our Code.

ìThe REC is very proud of this development. It will cement REC membership as a mark of high quality in recruitment; helping to create a modern industry for a modern labour market.

ìWhere vulnerable workers are exploited there is a need focus on the enforcement of the current Employment Agency Act regulations rather than inventing new laws. There is no real need to introduce further detailed regulation of the industry ñ as the trade unions are currently trying to do through their Private Memberís Bill on temporary agency workers.î

On the question of the supply of loans and services to workers the REC supports the DTIís suggestion that workers should not be bound into these services. These services may be very useful, especially to those who are new to the country; however they should never result in exploitation. It is already good recruitment practice to allow for workers to withdraw from services provided by agencies and REC supports this provision.