Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate
{{Short description|Division of the Labour Markets Directorate}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2015}}
The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS){{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/employment-agency-standards-inspectorate|title=Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate|website=GOV.UK}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/3319/contents|title=The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003}} 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.{{cite web | url=https://www2.staffingindustry.com/eng/Editorial/Daily-News/UK-Recruitment-industry-took-in-a-record-38.9-billion-revenue-despite-a-difficult-year-85-generated-through-temp-contract-placements-52545 | title=UK – Recruitment industry took in a record £38.9 billion revenue despite a difficult year, 85% generated through temp/Contract placements }}
Annual report 2020–2021
In the reporting year 2020–2021,{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-agency-standards-eas-inspectorate-annual-report-2020-to-2021/employment-agency-standards-eas-inspectorate-annual-report-2020-to-2021 | title=Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate: Annual report, 2020 to 2021 }} 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).{{cite web |title=Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate Annual Report 2020 – 2021 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1081992/eas-annual-report-2020-2021.pdf |publisher=UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy |access-date=14 April 2023}} 30px Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0]. © Crown copyright.
Accounts
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’,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/providing-a-key-information-document-for-agency-workers-guidance-for-employment-businesses|title=Providing a 'Key information document' for agency workers: guidance for employment businesses|website=GOV.UK}} 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).
Past accounts
According to the Minister for Employment in 2005,{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo050705/text/50705w16.htm#50705w16.html_wqn3|title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Jul 2005 (pt 16)}} 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
Notes
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External links
- DBERR consultation on the NMWA 1998 and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20080906194730/http://www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/page39461.html EASI]
- Written answer from minister on [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040623/text/40623w15.htm#40623w15.html_sbhd7 Hansard, 23.06.2004, col. 1455W]
- Written answer from minister on [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo050705/text/50705w16.htm#50705w16.html_wqn3 Hansard, 5.07.2005, col. 284W]