- The Employment Agency Standards report for 2018-2019 was published on the 12 January 2021 and contains data relating to the performance and achievements of the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EASI).
- The report contains information relating to the EASI’s commitments in the ‘Good Work Plan’ which includes the introduction of a Key Information Document, the abolition of Pay Between Assignments’ contracts and on-going work to prepare for the extension of EASI’s remit to cover ‘Umbrella’ companies.
- There has been a large growth in the recruitment sector. The Recruitment and Employers Confederation estimated that in 2018 there were 31,566 employment businesses/agencies. The combined turnover of these businesses had grown from £8.3 billion in 1995 to £63.7 billion in 2018.
- The Office for National Statistics also estimate that the number of agency workers has increased from 620,000 in the late 1990s to approximately one million in 2018 (ONS, 2019).
- In 2018/19 EASI recovered £76,000 for workers. Since April 2008 over £1.6 million has been recovered.
- In 2018/19 EASI has dealt with over 55% more complaints, they conducted 61% more targeted inspections and identified 39% more breaches than in the previous reporting year.
- The largest volume of complaints were about the failure to pay a worker.
- EASI issued a total of 205 warning letters to businesses found to have infringed their obligations and sought compliance with the relevant provisions of the legislation. This was an increase of 62% from the previous reporting year.
- EASI has issued four Labour Market Undertakings during this reporting period and is
- working with those businesses to support them in becoming compliant.
- The EASI conduct unitary operations looking at high-risk sectors, as well as joint operations with HMRC’s NMW team and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).
The report can be found here.
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