Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate
The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS)[1] is located within the Department for Business and Trade. EAS is the government regulator for the private recruitment sector, regulating all employment agencies and employment businesses that provide work-finding services in Great Britain. It takes complaints and investigates breaches of the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Businesses Regulations 2003.[2] It also conducts inspections to ensure agencies' compliance with the legislation.
There are an estimated 32,000 private recruitment agencies in the UK, representing an industry turnover in excess of £38.9 billion a year.[3]
Annual report 2020–2021
[edit]In the reporting year 2020–2021,[4] it cleared 1800 complaints, completed 177 inspections, found 900 infringements and issued 267 warning letters. The total amount of money recovered for workers was £132.570. EAS also sought legal advice on 22 cases, resulting in 2 successful prosecutions, 3 prohibitions and 1 Labour Market Enforcement Undertakings Order (LMEO).[5]
Accounts
[edit]The budget for 2020/21 was increased from £1.125m to £1.525m, an increase of approx. 36%, to allow for the recruitment of more frontline inspectors as recommended by the DLME (Director Labour Market Enforcement), and to prepare for the introduction of the ‘Key Information Document’,[6] which came into force on 6 April 2020. As a result of the growth of EAS, the inspectorate restructured to create a dedicated Operations Team of 18 frontline inspectors supported by colleagues on Intelligence, Risk, and IT (Information Technology).[5]
Past accounts
[edit]According to the Minister for Employment in 2005,[7] the Inspectorate had the following resources,
- 2002–03, budget expenditure £659,000
- 12 regionally based Inspectors
- 3 Managers also with inspection powers
- 5 Helpline staff (to receive complaints, advise and answer worker and agency questions)
- 2003–04, budget expenditure £581,000
- 12 regionally based Inspectors
- 3 Managers also with inspection powers
- 4 Helpline staff (to receive complaints, advise and answer worker and agency questions)
- 2004–05, budget expenditure £566,000
- 12 regionally based Inspectors
- 3 Managers also with inspection powers
- 4 Helpline staff (to receive complaints, advise and answer worker and agency questions)
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ "Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate". GOV.UK.
- ^ "The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003".
- ^ "UK – Recruitment industry took in a record £38.9 billion revenue despite a difficult year, 85% generated through temp/Contract placements".
- ^ "Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate: Annual report, 2020 to 2021".
- ^ a b "Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate Annual Report 2020 – 2021" (PDF). UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
- ^ "Providing a 'Key information document' for agency workers: guidance for employment businesses". GOV.UK.
- ^ "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Jul 2005 (pt 16)".
External links
[edit]- DBERR consultation on the NMWA 1998 and the EASI
- Written answer from minister on Hansard, 23.06.2004, col. 1455W
- Written answer from minister on Hansard, 5.07.2005, col. 284W