Employment Agencies
The Department is responsible for regulating the conduct of employment agencies and businesses in Northern Ireland.
Enforcement
The Department can enter and inspect the premises and records of all employment agencies and businesses in Northern Ireland to ensure compliance with the Regulations. Inspections are carried out routinely or upon receipt of a complaint. Serious or repeated breaches of the legislation will be prosecuted and in some cases, we may seek to prohibit an agency from operating
The second Departmental report on private recruitment sector enforcement has now been prepared and covers the period of April 2009 to March 2010.
The first Departmental report on private recruitment sector enforcement covers an extended period of Jan 2006 to Mar 2009.
Complaints
Should you wish to make a complaint
Legislation
All employment agencies and businesses must comply with the:
- Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) (NI) Order 1981
(as amended); - The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.
- Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations (NI) 2005
- Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2008
In the main the Regulations require employment agencies and businesses to make more detailed checks on their clients to ensure that they are suitable for vacancies; tighten controls on client accounts; clarify requirements to keep records and tighten restrictions relating to charges and fees.
The Department consulted in 2007 on proposals to amend the 2005 Conduct Regulations. This consultation document is still available for download. The Department published an analysis to this consultation and the Departmental Response to these on 14 January 2008. The amending Regulations came into operation on 6th April 2008
Guidance
- Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005: A Detailed Guide
- Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008: Guidance
Other Guidance
The Department has recently produced the following information in relation to Models and Would be Entertainers and Drivers Working via Employment Agencies Employment Businesses:-
- Information for: Would be Models and Entertainers - Top Tips
- Information for: Drivers Working via Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses
- Code of Conduct for Online Job Board Advertising
We have also produced the following guidance in relation to the Regulations:-
- Frequently Asked Questions for Work-Seekers available in English, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese.
- Frequently Asked Questions for Agencies
Private Recruitment Sector Research
Due to the continuing development of policy and legislation in relation to the Private Recruitment Sector, the Department considered that research into this sector was essential.
As there had previously been no specific local research into the size and nature of the Private Recruitment Sector in Northern Ireland, the Department anticipates that this report will be an important step towards better informing future policymaking and improving the Department’s ability to meet the needs of Northern Ireland’s agency workers, agencies and hirers.
The Department will use these findings in policy areas that affect the private recruitment sector, such as the proposed amendments to the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005, and in the implementation of the Temporary Agency Workers Directive.
The findings of the report will also assist the Department’s Employment Agency Inspectors in increasing protections for the Private Recruitment Sector’s most vulnerable workers in Northern Ireland. Final Report
Contact Us
Department for Employment and LearningEmployment Relations Policy and Legislation Branch
Adelaide House
39-49 Adelaide Street
BELFAST
BT2 8FD
For the Employment Agency Helpline telephone: 028 9025 7554 ( Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00pm)
