14 April 2004 - Employment Agencies Affected by New Legislation
It is estimated that there are more than 500,000 workers employed through 17,000 agencies and employment businesses across the UK. Revised legislation - Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations is now in force which has a variety of implications for agencies including a requirement to obtain information on any health and safety risks known to the hirer and the steps taken to prevent or control those risks. The rules will be enforced by the DTI's Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.
The DTI has produced detailed guidance in collaboration with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the main trade association for the private recruitment industry, and the trade union Equity.
Employment Minister Gerry Sutcliffe commented:
"In the future, everyone who uses the services provided by agencies and employment businesses can have greater confidence in them - both those companies that use them to supply staff as well as the agency workers themselves".
The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 can be found on the HMSO web site here.
