REC Statement in Response to Jim Murphy’s Question Time Remarks About Recruitment Agencies

 

Responding to Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Jim Murphy’s claim on BBC One’s ‘Question Time’ last night (26 March 2015) that “immigrants are exploited often by recruitment agencies”, and that “we should ban those employment agencies that only recruit from overseas workers”, REC chief executive Kevin Green says:

“It was disappointing to hear Jim Murphy come out with same old tired, overused and misleading lines about agencies and overseas recruitment on Question Time last night.

“This will not only serve to frustrate the 100,000 hard-working people in the recruitment industry but also the 630,000 people that our industry helped find a new permanent job last year and the 1.15million people temporary we place into temporary or contract placements each and every day of the year.

“The REC’s position has always been that all job adverts must be advertised in English and in Britain at the same time as being advertised overseas. The new provision in the Conduct Regulations enshrines what we believe was already required of our members, and what is already expected of all employers, including recruiters, under the Equality Act 2010. 

“For the avoidance of doubt and to ensure absolute compliance, we recommend that our recruiters should advertise in Great Britain and in English every time they have a new vacancy. 

“If there is any evidence of an REC member illegally advertising exclusively from overseas, this should be sent to us so that we can investigate it through our robust compliance procedures which are supported by the TUC and the CBI. 

“We continue to talk to politicians from every political party and in these conversations we will put the record straight. We also call on REC members to talk directly to existing and prospective MPs in the run up to the election. We think that by inviting them into your organisation to see first-hand the great work that recruiters do up and down the UK, we will start the process of educating them of the value of our great industry.

“Our manifesto demonstrates how the vibrant and dynamic recruitment sector helps British businesses to get the talent they need and assists millions of individuals get a job that often transforms their lives.”

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