Employment agencies and employment businesses: consultation on reforming the regulatory framework

This consultation sought views on when it is appropriate for the government to impose rules on the recruitment sector, and when it is more appropriate for the sector and marketplace to decide the rules for themselves. We also asked for views on enforcement and whether individual enforcement would be more effective than the current government enforcement regime.

The government has considered the responses to the consultation and intends to proceed with the proposal to replace the current legislation with a new regulatory framework. We will remove some of the regulatory burden from business but will continue to protect people who are looking for work. We also intend to move to a more targeted enforcement regime. In future we will concentrate our resources to help the most vulnerable workers who need protection.