Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to increase the resources and staffing available to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate; and if he will make a statement.

The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) enforce the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (both as amended).

We have doubled EAS resource this financial year and will increase resource again for the financial year 2015/16. This additional resource is being used for targeted enforcement in high risk areas in order to protect the most vulnerable agency workers.

In February, EAS inspectors led a targeted enforcement operation in the Sheffield area. They were accompanied by officers from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC’s) National Minimum Wage (NMW) team and, on some visits, by the Pensions Regulator.

During the inspections of 15 employment businesses, EAS identified 32 potential breaches of the Conduct Regulations, as well as a potential breach of the Employment Agencies Act. Where breaches were identified, warning letters were issued and the agencies were required to change practices and demonstrate compliance or face further enforcement action.