Latest news from policy and research

With the labour market starting to recover, the REC maintains its efforts to engage with BEIS, DWP, the Cabinet office, the Home Office and many more to ensure a fair and inclusive transition. As workers return to their place of work, we are making sure that the specificities of agency work are understood and taken care of by the policies being put in place.

Working towards a safe return to work

As some of the earlier lockdown measures are eased, there are many questions about how to manage health and safety.

We have been working with government and unions - for example meetings with the DWP, the NEU and NASWUT– to map out the challenges that returning to work will present, without leaving agency workers behind.

We have put together a summary of H&S requirements reflecting joint obligations that client and agencies have.

We are not the only ones spreading the word – Manpower, Randstad and Adecco’s ‘Safely back to work’ initiative are holding a webinar next week, hosted by our very own CEO, Neil Carberry – to explore the solutions needed by our industry, with the people who belong to our industry.  Book your place here.

Finally, we are collaborating with the Human Rights Commission to tackle the challenges faced by protected groups.

Giving the industry the capability to help rebuild the world of tomorrow

Along with other employment industry leaders, we wrote to Secretary of State Thérèse Coffey. We are calling for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to commit resources to employability services delivered by private sector recruitment agencies, as it is an investment that will pay off for workers and the Government alike.

We also wrote to Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jesse Norman MP, asking that HMRC enforcement focuses on fraud, and to give a statement of reassurance to employers who have done the right thing . We want the recognition that employers from our sectors implemented the CJRS to the best of their abilities, in spite of the uncertainties over the technicalities (for instance, regarding issues of clarity on holiday pay and what “on payroll” meant in practice).

The recruitment industry at a global scale

Via a two-pronged approach, we called for the opening of air bridges with quarantine relaxation to and from low-risk countries. This is a vital step in order to open up further trading with overseas partners.

Our first letter went out to Prime Minister Boris Johnson as part of a coalition with Airlines UK. We followed up with a second letter sent to the Home Secretary, the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the Transport Secretary through the #FullStrength coalition.

In spite of the mayhem caused by the COVID-19 crisis, we are keeping a close eye on trading relationships, as agreements are being negotiated following Brexit.

Read all about how the global recruitment industry can drive positive change in the ‘new normal’.

Call to action

The Migration Advisory Committee are currently consulting on occupations to add to the Shortage Occupation List. It would be helpful if members can respond to this consultation by the 24 June deadline. Policy Adviser, Chris Russell has written a blog on the consultation and wider immigration issues.

Research corner

Our Second Jobs Recovery Tracker, in partnership with EMSI, uncovered the UK’s hiring hotspots:

• Total job postings in the UK rose to almost 963,000 in the first week of June
• Five of the top ten hiring hotspots were in Scotland and Wales – Bridgend, Wrexham, the Welsh Valleys, Dumfries & Galloway and Lothian
• Increased demand was reported for customer service reps, parking attendants and speech therapists

As for our latest Report on Jobs, it highlighted that:

• Permanent placements and temp billings declined further amid recruitment freezes – but with a sentiment of there being an improvement on the month before
• Availability of workers rose at quickest rate since July 2009
• Weak demand for staff led to downward pressure on pay