The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has hit back at the GMB’s claims that local authorities are wasting millions of pounds on employing temporary and agency staff instead of recruiting permanent staff.

Tom Hadley, the REC’s Director of External Affairs, dismissed the GMB’s claims , he said the figures should be put into context.
“The total amount the Council spends on its temporary staffing budget is only a fraction of the overall staffing bill and must be seen in context of other costs such as the £374m spent on its housing stock,” he said.

 “What the union fails to address through these figures is the fact that many people chose temporary instead of permanent work because it suits their lifestyle and because it offers them flexibility, choice and autonomy,” Hadley added.

“One of the REC’s concerns is that local authorities, in trying to cut costs in their staffing bills, may be sacrificing safe and ethical recruitment practices.”