The government is to hold a third round of consultation on the Employment Agencies Act (EAA), the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has said. Regulations are expected to be implemented in October.

The announcement that a further consultation will be held confirms months of speculation that the changes made to the February 2001 draft are substantial.

‘While on the one hand it is frustrating that the industry remains in limbo, this further consultation does at least mean proper consideration is being given to the issues that we have raised,’ said Marcia Roberts, REC director of external relations.

‘We cannot escape the fact that these regulations will happen at some point in the future, but we can ensure that those drafting the regulations have a working knowledge of the intricacies of the recruitment market,’ said Roberts.

The regulations are expected to be laid before parliament in May.