March shelved

Published Tuesday 14 November 2006 at 09:25

The Department of Trade & Industry Employment Agency Standards announced in March this year a very specific consultation, due to start in November. The DTI mentioned “cases where unscrupulous individuals hire a venue [hotel] for a very short period, invite would be actors/models to attend and then engage in hard-sell tactics to persuade them or their parents to pay high fees for the provision of ‘services’ and the promise of work which never materialises - we will explore the possibility of introducing a cooling-off period, perhaps by banning the seeking or taking of fees on the day that a model/actor first met an agent - and perhaps make the practice less attractive to unscrupulous agents.”

The DTI was referring to certain unscrupulous ‘work-seeking services’ who were charging applicants nearly £200 just to put you in touch with an ‘employment agency’ or even more ‘work-seeking services’ that charged a second up-front fee, of up to £150. This had the effect of double charging those seeking work, with no obligation whatsoever to find them any paid work.

At a very recent meeting with the DTI, the head of Employment Agency Standards gave the impression that we will no longer be restricted on what can be discussed during this further consultation. However, it would be wrong of me if I suggested the DTI will consider banning up-front fees, because the consultation process has not been completed. However, we are told that the results of the consultation exercise will go through parliament by the end of next year. As a result any changes will be in force almost a year from now.

What this means, in layman’s terms, is that a ban on up-front fees is now firmly on the DTI radar/consultation agenda. It will be discussed and if agreed upon, will become law next year. Therefore, the up-front fee demonstration planned for November 9, as reported on the front page of The Stage on October 12, has now been shelved, since the DTI have now agreed to talks on this issue.

I must thank the new DTI minister Jim Fitzpatrick, for recognising that we really do need a permanent solution to these widespread up-front fee abuses where previously, the DTI EAS have been unwilling or unable to take any effective action, to “stamp it out”.

Clive Hurst

Equity councillor