Do you know your rights as a work-seeker?

As a work-seeker, it’s important for you to know that there are rules governing employment agencies and employment businesses and that you can ask questions if you feel they are not being followed.

There are differences between “employment agencies” and "employment businesses”.

Under legislation, an “employment agency” ordinarily introduces candidates to client organisations for permanent vacancies or fixed term contract vacancies. In this instance, the Agency will charge the client organisation a fee, and the client organisation employs the candidate directly.

An “employment business” ordinarily supplies temporary workers. Again, any fees involved are charged to the client organisation, never the candidate. The Business will then take responsibility for paying the candidate.

The Cummins Mellor Group provide both services and will, therefore, fall under both definitions.

Employment agencies and employment businesses are regulated by the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. Anyone running an employment agency or employment business has to follow certain rules.

In brief, an agency or business cannot: Charge a fee to a work-seeker for work finding services Stop someone from working elsewhere or terminating their contract with them Make someone tell them the name of any future employer Withhold payments or wages due Supply a temporary worker to replace someone taking part in industrial action Charge for a uniform without telling the worker in advance Make unlawful deductions from pay The agency or business must also make sure workers are: Paid for all the work they do Paid holiday Not forced to work longer than 48 hours a week Paid at least the National Minimum Wage Protected under health and safety laws Given written terms of employment As a general rule, agencies and employment businesses are prohibited from charging or seeking to charge work-seekers for the service of finding or seeking to find employment for them.

Agencies and employment businesses are also restricted from requiring work-seekers to use services for which they are entitled to charge, as a condition of providing work-finding services (such as CV writing services).Tracey BeveridgeHead of HR & Administration

Enjoyed this? Read more from Cummins Mellor Recruitment

Latest news

1

Wain Homes agrees partnership to complete development site in Blackburn Wain Homes site

Wain Homes agrees partnership to complete development site in Blackburn

27 Jan 2025

2

Panthera celebrate 5th anniversary at clinical research clinic

Panthera celebrate 5th anniversary at clinical research clinic

27 Jan 2025

3

Barnfield Construction transitions to an Employee-Owned Business Staff Cheer Photo.jpg.jpg

Barnfield Construction transitions to an Employee-Owned Business

24 Jan 2025

4

Wallsauce looks to grow B2B customer base with increased trade focus Martin Emmott Rosebud and Andy Gerraty Wallsauce

Wallsauce looks to grow B2B customer base with increased trade focus

24 Jan 2025

5

CBP goes into administration Community and Business Partners in Blackburn with doors shut

CBP goes into administration

23 Jan 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
The Lancashire Festival of Business
FOB 315
Exhibitions
30 Jan 2025

The Lancashire Festival of Business

Impact Conferencing, Burnley, BB12 6QP

09:30 - 16:00

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Awards
14 Jan 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire
LBV Hub Event Image.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
30 Jan 2025 - 30 Jan 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR7 1PS

18:00 - 20:00

February Preston Tech Connection Meet-Up: Tech & Our Planet
PRESTON TECH CONNECTION jan.ai.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
12 Feb 2025 - 12 Feb 2025

February Preston Tech Connection Meet-Up: Tech & Our Planet

Society1 Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Police Apprenticeship event
Student Centre Autumn 2022.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Social
12 Feb 2025 - 12 Jan 2025

Police Apprenticeship event

University of Central Lancashire, Foster Social Space , Preston , PR1 2HE

16:00 - 19:00

Amber River True Bearing Quarterly Investment Seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
13 Feb 2025

Amber River True Bearing Quarterly Investment Seminar

Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Blackburn Rd, Clayton-le-Moors, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB5 5JP

16:00 - 18:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Feb 2025 - 13 Feb 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Sub36 Networking - Behind the beans
Sub36 Social1200Atkinsons New
Networking
14 Feb 2025

Sub36 Networking - Behind the beans

Atkinsons Speciality Coffee, Lancaster, LA1 1 EX

09:00 - 11:30

National Apprenticeship Week 2025 Celebration - Business Breakfast Showcase
Student Centre Autumn 2022.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
14 Feb 2025 - 14 Jan 2025

National Apprenticeship Week 2025 Celebration - Business Breakfast Showcase

Media Factory , Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 10:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Employment Law, Tax and Payroll Update - East Lancashire
Employment updates - LinkedIn East Lancs-01.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Employment Law, Tax and Payroll Update - East Lancashire

Accrington Stanley Football Club, Accrington, BB5 5BX

08:00 - 10:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV120 Online Graphic 1
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin