The outcome of an International Labour Organisation (ILO) meeting in Geneva is a step in the right direction for agencies according to external relations director at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation Tom Hadley.

Hadley told Recruiter that progress had been made in highlighting the positive contribution of the industry and in challenging its negative perception.

Hadley says that consensus was reached in the following areas:

- the positive contribution of regulated private employment agencies in terms of facilitating labour market inclusion and reducing undeclared work;

- the need for appropriate national regulation on private sector agencies, which reflects the key principles of Convention 181

 - the fact that national level regulations on the industry should be fair, non-discriminatory and objective;

- governments’ should identify and review and, where appropriate, remove obstacles to agency work;
- the cooperation between public employment services and private sector agencies should be encouraged and developed.

Hadley added: “The conference in Geneva was an opportunity to underline the positive role of the industry and to challenge some of the negative perceptions.  Real progress has been made and there is huge potential for the agency work model to develop globally. Over time, this could present new opportunities for UK recruiters.

“It is also important to remember that discussions at an ILO level can often filter in to the EU regulatory machine and ultimately have a direct impact on UK recruiters.  As a result, it is crucial for the UK industry to be at the forefront of these discussions at a global level

“There are a number of practical and political reasons for Governments deciding not to ratify the ILO Convention. However, the conference in Geneva was an opportunity to underline the positive role of the industry and to challenge some of the negative perceptions.  Real progress has been made and there is huge potential for the agency work model to develop globally. Over time, this could present new opportunities for UK recruiters”.

The ILO is a specialised agency of the United Nations.