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BriefingsMishcon de Reya Recruitment Watch - June 2008
WelcomeWelcome to the June 2008 edition of Mishcon de Reya's Recruitment Watch, prepared by the Firm's Recruitment Services Group. Its aim is to provide those involved in the recruitment sector with a snapshot of what has been happening in the world of recruitment in the last month. NewsPolicyThe Gangmasters Licensing Authority has launched an 18-month campaign, entitled Operation Ajax, to crackdown on worker abuse by rogue gangmasters. Following national media reports that tens of thousands of migrants are working with vulnerable adults without proper criminal record checks Peter Cullimore, chairman of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's Nursing and Social Care Group, has urged recruiters to take action and adopt safer checks. Phil Hope, the MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, has launched a campaign to persuade recruitment agencies to sign his 10-point pledge to improve standards in the industry and abide by existing legislation. MarketFinancial and stock market analysts have warned that the recruitment industry is facing its most difficult time since the beginning of the decade and a number of companies will not survive. A report by Catalyst Corporate Finance has suggested that the market for high-quality recruitment companies will remain strong even during an economic downturn. The latest statistics from McCall have found that public sector, professional services, commercial/industrial and IT are still strongly performing sectors for recruitment despite recent economic difficulties. A survey by the specialist recruiter Joslin Rowe has found that on average City salaries have actually risen despite the credit crunch. According to the Association of Technology Staffing Companies, real wages for entry level IT jobs have fallen in the past 5 years and this will deter graduates from entering the sector. Trends/PracticeA number of recruiters, who have expanded into Eastern European markets, are struggling with diversity issues as they are unable to recruit enough women to senior roles. CompaniesGatenbySanderson has won 8 separate assignments to oversee the search and selection for the appointment of 8 chief executive positions in the public sector. The Recruitment Society and the Recruitment Employment Confederation have criticised Reed Managed Services for joining the National Staff Dismissal Register. Legal DevelopmentsCasesSales Link Services have agreed a £5,000 out of court settlement with Pauline Alexander following on from an employment tribunal decision that the company discriminated against her on the grounds of disability when a consultant refused to give her an interview because she was deaf. Mishcon de ReyaMishcon de Reya's Recruitment Watch is published by the Recruitment Services Group of Mishcon de Reya Solicitors who were established to meet the demands of their clients within the recruitment sector. The Group is made up of cross departmental specialist lawyers who are able to meet the diverse legal needs of the recruitment industry, with wide and varied experience within the sector and who have a proven track record in being able to meet the growing demand for a one-stop service amongst their recruitment clients.
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IMPORTANT: This briefing note is only intended as a general statement of the law and no action should be taken in reliance on it without specific legal advice. |