The number of complaints received by the Employment Agency Standards (EAS) Inspectorate rose by 9% in the last year, according to its 2009-10 annual report.

The report shows EAS received 1,714 complaints during 2009-10, with 30% of complaints and investigations carried out in the industrial, construction & drivers, sector followed by 19% in the secretarial, commercial & admin and modelling sector respectively.

Between 2009 and 2010, EAS recovered £204,000 for workers, up on the £63,341 recovered during 2008-09.

Lewina Farrell, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s head of professional services, says: “The increasing number of complaints shows that there is a growing awareness of government enforcement mechanisms among employers and jobseekers. The focus on raising awareness of the EAS has mirrored the REC’s own work on compliance issues such as the ‘Serious about Standards’ campaign. For recruiters, the key is to ensure that all staff are up to speed with their regulatory obligations.

“Our message to government is that enforcement activities must be properly co-ordinated and targeted. Rogue providers that deliberately and systematically flout regulations must be dealt with: the REC will continue to work closely with the EAS and other government inspectorates to deliver the best possible enforcement system for the industry.”