The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has issued its response to the Governmentís Green Paper ìIn work, better off: next steps to full employmentî.
Commenting on the planned reforms to the welfare system, Anne Fairweather, the RECís Head of Public Policy, said ìWe are keen to ensure that the skills and experience of the recruitment industry are utilised to full effect in the Governmentís plans to lift over one million people off benefits and into work. However this is only going to be possible if future welfare to work services make full use of the opportunities of temporary work. Our research shows 1.2 million people are placed into temporary jobs every week. Temporary jobs could provide a route back into full employment for many who have not worked for many years.
ìTemporary work is also a generator of new jobs, with only 14 per cent of employers saying they would create a new job if they did not have access to temporary workers. The REC calls on the Government to work with the private recruitment sector to get increasing numbers of people into work rather than bow to trade union campaigns to introduce further legislation on temporary work, which would ultimately restrict job opportunities.î
In relation to how recruitment agencies can help deliver welfare to work services Anne Fairweather continues: ìThe REC and its members already work with Jobcentre Plus on a daily basis to get people into work.
ìAround 40 per cent of job vacancies advertised through Jobcentre Plus are placed by recruitment agencies. The REC will work with the Department of Work and Pensions and the CBI to ensure that any contracting out of welfare to work services maximises the wealth of knowledge and employer contacts within the private recruitment agency sector.î
The full REC response can be downloaded from:
Using recruitment agencies to get people into work
REC response to the Governmentís Green Paper ìIn work, better off: next steps to full employmentî.
