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27 Dec 2007 10:34 in Government News Network news
Hain: new checks on employers in the adult entertainment industry
Hain: new checks on employers in the adult entertainment industry
DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS News Release (EMP-054) issued by The Government News Network on 27 December 2007
A crackdown on unscrupulous employers advertising jobs in the adult entertainment industry has been introduced by Jobcentre Plus, announced Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain.
Employers found to be providing illegal services will have their access to Jobcentre Plus withdrawn and will be reported to the police.
Introducing the crackdown Peter Hain said:
"While we have a duty to advertise all legal vacancies, we must ensure that Jobcentre Plus is not used as a gateway to illegal activities. Jobseekers have a right to expect the jobs advertised in our offices and on our website are above board.
"Jobcentre Plus already has a number of safeguards in place to ensure our customers remain safe, however, the crackdown I'm announcing today will ensure that unscrupulous employers cannot dupe our customers. It's time we nailed those that are intent on playing the system."
Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, welcomed the crackdown and said that these new checks will help protect vulnerable women and men from being misled and exploited.
Under the new measures employers will be required to sign a statement confirming the jobs advertised do not involve any illegal sexual services before Jobcentre Plus advertises its vacancy. Successful applicants will be contacted to ensure that nothing untoward or illegal was subsequently found to be part of the job requirement.
Safeguards already in place require employers to provide a full job description listing duties expected to be undertaken. In addition, JCP already ensure that; vacancies are clearly labelled as unsuitable for under 18s; no one is required to apply for these vacancies; and that a person's benefit will not be affected should they choose not to apply.
Notes to Editors
Adult entertainment industry vacancies advertised by Jobcentre Plus represent a very small percentage of total jobs advertised. For example, for the 4 week period from 24 September to 19 October 2007 of the 195,448 jobs advertised by jobcentre plus, 25 were in the adult entertainment industry.
The new checks will apply to all adult entertainment industry vacancies which involve physical contact, such as vacancies for sauna workers, escorts and massage parlour workers. The checks will ensure that where physical contact is required it is not of a sexual nature.
About Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on 'Work for those who can, support for those who cannot'. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work, including:
* Personal advisers to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance
* A dedicated service to support employers in filling their vacancies quickly and successfully, including the ability to place jobs online
* Ability to search for jobs both online and over the phone through Jobpoints in Jobcentre Plus offices, the Jobseeker Direct phone line and through the website
* Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.
Customers can access Jobcentre Plus services through around 1,000 locations across Great Britain, including over 800 newly refurbished Jobcentre Plus offices. Touch-screen terminals and Customer Access Phones are also available in a further 120 sites such as libraries and local authority premises. Jobcentre Plus works with over 275,000 employers to place 17,000 people into work every week. Over 400,000 vacancies are listed each week on its website and more than 4m job search requests are received, making it the number one UK recruitment website.
For further information on the services that Jobcentre Plus provides employers and people of working age visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/155872
27 Dec 2007 10:34 in Government News Network news
Hain: new checks on employers in the adult entertainment industry
Hain: new checks on employers in the adult entertainment industry
DEPARTMENT FOR WORK AND PENSIONS News Release (EMP-054) issued by The Government News Network on 27 December 2007
A crackdown on unscrupulous employers advertising jobs in the adult entertainment industry has been introduced by Jobcentre Plus, announced Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Peter Hain.
Employers found to be providing illegal services will have their access to Jobcentre Plus withdrawn and will be reported to the police.
Introducing the crackdown Peter Hain said:
"While we have a duty to advertise all legal vacancies, we must ensure that Jobcentre Plus is not used as a gateway to illegal activities. Jobseekers have a right to expect the jobs advertised in our offices and on our website are above board.
"Jobcentre Plus already has a number of safeguards in place to ensure our customers remain safe, however, the crackdown I'm announcing today will ensure that unscrupulous employers cannot dupe our customers. It's time we nailed those that are intent on playing the system."
Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, welcomed the crackdown and said that these new checks will help protect vulnerable women and men from being misled and exploited.
Under the new measures employers will be required to sign a statement confirming the jobs advertised do not involve any illegal sexual services before Jobcentre Plus advertises its vacancy. Successful applicants will be contacted to ensure that nothing untoward or illegal was subsequently found to be part of the job requirement.
Safeguards already in place require employers to provide a full job description listing duties expected to be undertaken. In addition, JCP already ensure that; vacancies are clearly labelled as unsuitable for under 18s; no one is required to apply for these vacancies; and that a person's benefit will not be affected should they choose not to apply.
Notes to Editors
Adult entertainment industry vacancies advertised by Jobcentre Plus represent a very small percentage of total jobs advertised. For example, for the 4 week period from 24 September to 19 October 2007 of the 195,448 jobs advertised by jobcentre plus, 25 were in the adult entertainment industry.
The new checks will apply to all adult entertainment industry vacancies which involve physical contact, such as vacancies for sauna workers, escorts and massage parlour workers. The checks will ensure that where physical contact is required it is not of a sexual nature.
About Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus, part of the Department for Work and Pensions, brings together employment and benefit services for people of working age and is a key element in the Government's objectives to help people based on 'Work for those who can, support for those who cannot'. It provides a professional and modern service to meet the diverse needs of employers and those seeking work, including:
* Personal advisers to provide practical support and advice to help those in need find and keep work, including training provision and benefits guidance
* A dedicated service to support employers in filling their vacancies quickly and successfully, including the ability to place jobs online
* Ability to search for jobs both online and over the phone through Jobpoints in Jobcentre Plus offices, the Jobseeker Direct phone line and through the website
* Swift, secure and professional access to benefits for those entitled to them.
Customers can access Jobcentre Plus services through around 1,000 locations across Great Britain, including over 800 newly refurbished Jobcentre Plus offices. Touch-screen terminals and Customer Access Phones are also available in a further 120 sites such as libraries and local authority premises. Jobcentre Plus works with over 275,000 employers to place 17,000 people into work every week. Over 400,000 vacancies are listed each week on its website and more than 4m job search requests are received, making it the number one UK recruitment website.
For further information on the services that Jobcentre Plus provides employers and people of working age visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
www.wired-gov.net/wg/wg-news-1.nsf/lfi/155872