Employment agencies operate at the heart of almost every key worker profession, employing around one million workers in the UK. It has long been an industry rife with exploitation, including recruitment scams, non-payment and even modern slavery.
But according to SAFERjobs, a charity that assists flexible economy workers, the spike in unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is being capitalised on by criminals. The charity has seen a 66% increase in complaints about scams and exploitation from employment agencies since the UK entered lockdown.
Rachel Keane, 25, became unemployed at the beginning of lockdown after a job offer was withdrawn. She immediately uploaded her CV online and applied to over 50 roles, from kitchen porter to cleaner and store assistant.
