The ‘REC bond’ referred to by John Bissell (Recruiter, Letters, 18 March) didn’t receive support in 2005 because it was a levy on prudent and competent agencies to protect against the actions of feckless and incompetent agencies.

It is debateable whether temps should have more protection than permanent employees whose employers go bust. I don’t think builders or retailers have such a scheme.

If such protection is seen by Mr Bissell and others as a ‘good thing’, and I don’t say it isn’t, then I suggest he forget the ABTA model and
concentrate on ways to force agencies to have adequate ring-fenced funds of their own to meet their temp payroll costs if they fail. That
would have my support.

• John Forrest, managing director, Forrest Recruitment