Recruitment Matters Issue 28 September 2014
Trade Association of the Year
What’s inside The 2-3 Intelligence and REC Talk
Rex
Interpreting the job stats, good recruitment and self employment
REC raises concerns with David Gauke MP
T&S benefits: time for review The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) is calling for evidence to inform a government review on the way travel and subsistence (T&S) benefits are used. Following a recommendation from the Office of Tax Simplification to review T&S, the government wants to understand how T&S dispensations are used, following suggestions that some may be manipulating the system as a way to avoid tax and breach national minimum wage regulations. It has been estimated that as much as £1.6bn in tax revenue is being lost under the scheme. T&S policies are untaxed benefits open to temporary employees working for organisations for less
than 24 months. They can include travel, food and accommodation costs, but exclude every day expenses. REC head of policy Kate Shoesmith said: “Members have previously raised concerns with the REC that whilst many organisations are using the scheme legitimately, a lack of enforcement and broader changes to the labour market have led to exploitation. We raised these concerns directly with the financial secretary to the Treasury David Gauke MP last year, and this consultation is an ideal opportunity to update our advice to government and provide them with specific examples and case studies of what is really happening on the ground so that they can develop more effective
guidance for employers and employees. “Our priority in responding is to ensure that any future guidance gives all parties absolute clarity on the nature of the benefits and what impact lower NI and tax contributions can have on a worker’s ability to qualify for state benefits, tax rebates and pension contributions.” The REC is asking members to contribute to its submission to government by detailing their experiences of T&S schemes, how they’ve seen them used, and the ways in which they have seen them being positively applied and exploited. Submissions can be sent to REC head of policy Kate Shoesmith at kate. shoesmith@rec.uk.com
i 4-5Putting pupils first Safeguarding in education recruitment
6
Legal lowdown and business recruitment
Public procurement and Brookson
Institute of 7 Recruitment Professionals Jo Sweetland from Green Park and Harris Keillar at Keillar Resourcing
8 RAC Audited
How can REC Audited help to support you in working with the public sector
www.rec.uk.com RM p1-SEP-A.indd 23
02/09/2014 14:15