Job board certification scheme launches to tackle employment scams 

22nd March 2024

Reports of job scams nearly quadruple since 2022, JobsAware reveals

• Job scam reports have risen 259% from 56 to 201 in Q4 from 2022 to 2023
• JobsAware launches certification scheme to help protect job seekers, employer brands and recruitment platforms from advertisement scams and fraud
• New scheme is backed by the Prime Minister’s Anti-Fraud Champion who is responsible for tackling online harms in line with new legislation

Friday 22nd March, London: Job boards and recruitment platforms are today urged to join a new certification scheme as reports of job-related scams quadruple.

JobsAware’s government-backed, industry-driven certification scheme will help protect job seekers, employer brands and recruitment platforms from advertisement scams and fraud.

Research from the campaigning organisation shows a rise of 259% in job scam reports from Q4 in 2022 to 2023. It also shows three in four job seekers want more action from job boards to prevent fraudulent activity.

Job boards and platforms becoming ‘JobsAware protected’ will help assure job seekers and employers that the jobs listed on these sites are legitimate and that, as a business, they will not be associated with fraudulent activity.

To become JobsAware-protected, businesses will be audited by British Assessment Bureau against a framework of regulation from the UK government, recruitment industry, and JobsAware’s code of practice – co-developed with the industry.

Auditors will need to see clear evidence that all best-practice standards are in place for a certification to be issued, with an annual renewal to ensure standards are maintained.

Online recruitment fraud has continued to increase since the pandemic. Recent Ofcom data shows that 30% of UK online adults have experienced employment scams or fraud, which ranks above the likes of identity, dating and health. People are also losing on average over £3,000 to scammers.

So far, job boards such as e4s, Guardian Jobs, Adzuna and job board software provider, Madgex, have committed to be involved in the scheme’s pilot which is expected to begin in Q2 2024.

JobsAware is calling for all job boards and platforms to become JobsAware protected to show their commitment to protecting job seekers and their business credibility. Companies can visit the JobsAware site (https://www.jobsaware.co.uk/ors) to apply to join the pilot scheme.

JobsAware, in partnership with British Assessment Bureau, worked with the Online Advertising Programme, an operational part of the Online Safety Act, as well as the Online Recruitment Forum to create the scheme and help tackle online recruitment scams.

JobsAware has previously worked with the Metropolitan Police, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Citizens Advice, GetSafeOnline and CIFAS to highlight employment fraud amongst job seekers.

Keith Rosser, chair of JobsAware, says: “This scheme will be game-changing for protecting the safety of workers and work-seekers. How people come to find jobs is fundamentally changing – it’s becoming much more digitalised. On one hand this creates opportunities, but it also allows fraudsters to scale.

“We’ve seen employment scams rise sharply over the past couple of years, harming labour market access and participation. With many people often applying for one role, people are counting on that role being legitimate for their livelihoods. People are losing on average over £3,000 to scammers, they can also have their identity compromised or fall foul to other kinds of labour abuse.

“This scheme is a robust approach with workers and businesses at the very heart, to make sure that everyone involved in the labour market is protected from becoming a victim to fraud.”

Simon Fell, Conservative MP and the Prime Minister’s Anti-Fraud Champion, says: “I am delighted to support the JobsAware online recruitment scheme aimed at tackling fake job adverts that not only defraud people looking for jobs, but also lead to other labour abuses such as modern slavery.

“This scheme is an excellent example of an industry stepping up to protect the public to meet the requirements of the Online Safety Act. It’s a good example of what we want to see from the online economy as we strengthen controls alongside important initiatives such as the Online Fraud Charter.

“The fact the scheme will be certified by UKAS-accredited organisations and meets a set of independent criteria gives citizens across the UK piece of mind that those job boards involved are committed to protecting people looking for work across the UK.”

Tim Boswell, Senior Director at Madgex says: “Collaborating with JobsAware to empower our clients in enhancing their online recruitment platform and safeguarding job seekers is a source of immense pride for Madgex.

“Keeping the jobseeker at the forefront has been the cornerstone of our company’s ethos since our establishment in 2000. In today’s climate, the significance of protecting worker rights cannot be overstated, and we whole-heartedly endorse JobsAware’s mission.””

Kevin Hollinrake, Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business, says:

“Businesses and workers often have to face difficulties with online recruitment which is why I’m pleased to see an industry-led solution that will deal with these challenges.

“This scheme will incentivise businesses to follow the rules they have set and give workers the confidence to use recruitment sites, helping to create the strong labour market the country needs to deliver economic growth.

“In addition, the government is making it easier to do business by ensuring rules and regulations are proportionate as well as considering wider impacts on consumers, innovation and competition.”

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Extra support for workers with new JobsAware umbrella partnership 

1st August 2022

JobsAware has formally agreed a joint working pilot with the umbrella sector to enable contractors to report abuses they suffer within the labour market.

The pilot, which will promote JobsAware’s free help and advice service to workers, is part of a wider set of co-regulation schemes developed by JobsAware and UK government with the aim of raising standards in the labour market and stamping out non-compliance.

With a change of Prime Minister imminent, the announcement comes against a backdrop of uncertainty for both the Employment Bill and Single Enforcement Body, both initiatives designed to protect UK workers.

Partnering with the umbrella sector, which accounts for more than 400,000 contractors and freelancers, is key to improving standards in the sector and generating data on non-compliant practices to drive more enforcement action within the flexible labour market.

Participating umbrella organisations will initially be able to show their support for worker rights by advertising the JobsAware service via payslips and other means. The move comes after the JobsAware Payment Intermediaries sub-committee, a joint committee of payroll companies, trade bodies, and government agencies, agreed a first set of principles for joint working and promotion of the service 

Two organisations – Workwell™, the UK’s largest umbrella, and Pendragon Umbrella, a trading brand of Pendragon Consultancy, are the scheme’s launch partners and will be the first umbrella organisations to promote the free JobsAware service to workers.

Head of Accounting, Chris James, Workwell™, said:

“JobsAware’s mission is one we whole-heartedly endorse.  The Taylor Review and Good Work Plan highlighted the need to improve worker rights in the UK and the JobsAware scheme is playing a crucial role.  As the UK’s largest Umbrella and contractor accountancy firm, we were only too pleased to support the organisation and its important work, particularly in relation to temporary workers. We’re looking forward to meeting with the various partner organisations and helping to inform policy about the UK’s thriving labour market which we believe should be good for workers and good for businesses alike.”

Chief Executive, Janet De-Havilland, Pendragon Consultancy said:

“Protecting worker rights has never been so important and we are proud to be taking part in the JobsAware pilot. We will work to raise awareness and ensure that this invaluable resource becomes the trusted go to for educating non-permanent workers of their rights, whilst enabling those encountering non-compliant practices or scams to be able to report it directly.”

JobsAware Chair, Keith Rosser, said:

“By working closely with the umbrella sector, we believe we can reach an even larger audience to help address critical sector issues, share information and tackle the non-compliance that we know the industry can face”.

The agreed principles of joint working with key members of the umbrella sector are:

• Demonstrate that Payment Intermediary partners are working proactively to protect contractor rights.
• A place to refer contractors that have concerns about their employment.
• A place to refer contractors that need general employment help or advice.
• An opportunity for Payment Intermediary partners to engage with UK Government, through the sub-committee, to discuss issues and opportunities in the sector.
• A place for Payment Intermediary partners to report abuse, such as contractor fraud.

More about JobsAware, Workwell™, and Pendragon Consultancy

JobsAware

JobsAware is a non-profit social enterprise originally set up the Metropolitan Police to help prevent scams in the labour market. JobsAware enjoys cross-government support.

JobsAware, which provides free online help and advice to those finding work or in non-permanent work, also supplies data on non-compliance to regulators, law enforcement, and trade bodies as appropriate, as well as working with government on enforcement action against non-compliant organisations.

Workwell™

Workwell™ is the leading provider of payroll & accountancy services to freelance workers in the UK and overseas. Our services are designed to meet the unique needs of contractors and freelancers, from one-person businesses to those who have ambitions to grow.

We also support recruitment businesses and end hirers with a suite of solutions including compliant engagement models; back-office and funding solutions and consultancy.

We are on a mission to help more people enjoy flexible working and more organisations tap into the power of flexible talent.

Pendragon Consultancy

Pendragon Consultancy is a boutique firm which provides global contingent workforce consulting. We are the industry specialists in compliance audits and employment services, supporting organisations and agencies which hire non– permanent workers in the UK and 150 countries around the globe.

Under the Pendragon brand we also provide employment intermediary services via Pendragon Umbrella to contracting professionals. Pendragon Umbrella has a commitment to safeguard the employment rights of workers seeking umbrella services, through compliance, best practice, transparency and first-class service.

Our team are friendly and professional with decades of experience in providing advice on the engagement, assessment, employment and retention of a flexible workforce.