Call for campaign to be revamped

18-Feb-2009 | By Colin Cottell

Posters used in a £1m government campaign to help agency workers know their rights give the public a false impression of temporary work and should be withdrawn, according to a recruiter.

Jeanette Robinson, managing director of Cavill Robinson Financial Recruitment, told Recruiter that the idea behind the campaign, launched on 9 February, was “absolutely right”. However, she argued that the photos of the three temporary workers used in the campaign did not reflect reality, and presented the industry in a false and potentially damaging light.

Two of the three ‘temporary workers “look distinctly unhappy”, said Robinson. However, research by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and the TUC showed that 80% of temporary workers are happy with their pay and conditions, she said. Robinson also criticised the surroundings. “It makes agencies look like they are supplying workers in to the most Dickensian of working conditions,” she said.

The images also gave a skewed picture of temporary work because they focused on relatively low paid and low status jobs. Robinson said that the reality was that many temporary workers, such as nurses, were highly skilled. “Many temporary workers are paid above market rate and work in modern surroundings,” she added.

Robinson has written to Pat McFadden, minister for employment relations, and to the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) expressing her concerns.

An ASA spokesperson said that should Robinson’s complaint be upheld, the campaign could be scrapped.

A Department for Business spokesman said: “We are very much aware that it is a minority of agencies who are exploiting workers. A key aim of this campaign is to ensure that employment businesses who play by the rules are not undercut by agencies who do not.

“Unfortunately, exploitation of agency workers is still an issue. This awareness campaign has been targeted at those in sectors where this is a particularly pressing matter.”

The spokesman added that the campaign had been developed following consultation with the REC and The Employment Agents Movement (TEAM). A number of agency workers also took part in developing the campaign.

Kevin Green, chief executive of REC, said: “Agency workers deserve to have their rights respected and we welcome this campaign to root out rogue agencies.”