Recruitment and Employment Confederation statistics show recruitment agency complaints rose by 25% in 2006

Official complaints against recruitment agencies rose by 25% in 2006, according to figures from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

The REC’s professional standards team handled 685 complaints and enquiries in 2006, half of which involved grievances against members. Its annual complaints report found temporary workers continued to complain the most, accounting for about half of all gripes.

However, the last quarter of 2006 showed a sharp rise in the number of complaints from candidates for permanent jobs and from clients, two groups with little representation in complaint figures in the past.

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Most complaints about the conduct of REC members involved some element of dissatisfaction with customer service and agency complaint-handling practices.

The REC represents more than 8,000 corporate businesses and 5,500 recruitment consultants. The organisation expelled three corporate members and one individual member during 2006, and issued one reprimand.