Red-tape relic that now threatens online recruitment

In September 1997 the word internet first appeared in Jobfile. Of course, it had been around for some time and recruitment jobs boards had existed almost from its inception. But in 1997 it was a delicate matter for a print-based appointments section even to admit the existence of an online alternative.



That''s all changed now - not only is there an online version of this section, but the jobs boards (once seen as a threat to the very existence of newspaper advertising) have created a role for themselves that is complementary rather than life-threatening.



In fact, as a measure of how far things have swung the other way, I''m about to argue their case. Or rather, argue the case that the government must think again if it isn''t in effect to outlaw all online recruitment.



For nearly 30 years the Employment Agencies Act 1973 has lain mostly dormant, having been introduced at a time when a few rogue agencies were giving the whole recruitment industry a bad name.



Anyway, there the act sits, not achieving anything until this government decides to dust it off. While there isn''t space to go into all the proposed changes, let''s just say that it is difficult to see where any of the new regulations offer any benefit to an agency, employer or candidate. Most of it is good old-fashioned red tape, introduced to keep civil servants in paid employment.



But what threatens the online recruitment industry is that, under the regulations, any internet site that holds - or even transmits - candidates'' CVs will be considered an employment agency and as such will have to organise face-to-face meetings with all candidates and hold copies of all their qualifications.



On the one hand this raises the ridiculous spectre of people not being able to apply for jobs unless their applications are made with copies of all educational and professional qualifications. On the other hand, it would in effect blank every recruitment site from our screens.



If the DTI really did want to crack down on poor agency practices, it had ample choice. Instead, a team of misguided civil servants has come up with a set of regulations that will only limit jobseekers'' choice and drive up recruitment costs to employers. More evidence, were it needed, that old Labour is alive and well and legislating.



jobfile@deft.co.uk



This article appeared in The Sunday Times on 10th November 2002, by Simon Howard.