ARC welcomes government rejection of GLA and EAS merger

ARC welcomes government rejection of GLA and EAS merger

Following a recent meeting between the Association of Recruitment Consultancies and senior representatives at the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), the government reaffirmed that it has no plans to reintroduce licensing to the recruitment industry as a whole.

Licensing does exist to an extent in some areas, for example under the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) scheme. When asked whether there is any truth to the rumour that the government is considering merging the GLA with the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate the government spokesman replied in the negative and pointed to various recent statements made by the minister confirming the position.

Ben Grover, the ARC’s External Policy Adviser said “Many in the recruitment industry will be relieved to learn that the regime on GLA lines will not be extended generally and that the government appears to recognise that the recruitment industry is already subject to sufficient regulation. ARC is committed to helping improve trading conditions for recruitment consultancies, and believes that the time has come to let the industry concentrate on servicing its clients. ARC therefore welcomes the government’s response.” 

However it is understood that BIS is currently conducting a workplace compliance review which is due to report later this year on possible efficiency changes relating to agency compliance.