" Quite simply - We are a people business - there are the people we supply, the people we supply to and the people involved in the recruitment process, people are as important today as they have ever been, to the success of our business"
M G Rowe - Managing Director
The World Bank is concerned that there are too many protections for workers and that this is threatening the future growth of the business world. It is calling for lower minimum wages and stronger powers for employers in a shake-up of the current labour laws.
Greater powers for employers
The World Bank wants employers to be able to hire and fire people more easily and to have the minimum wage lowered. This is all in a drive to enable businesses to hire workers at a lower cost with the main target being developing countries.
Trade Unions are shocked at the suggestions, which would decrease the rights of workers and reduce salaries. Workers would be adversely affected by the new proposals by the shared prosperity agenda set out by the bank’s president, Jim Yong Kim.
These future proposals by the bank would mean employers would not need to contribute to social security and that they would be free to pay the lowest wages possible. The employer would also be able to fire people with ease and with little recourse for the worker. Unions would also have diminished powers.
Lower minimum wages
Workers would have very few rights in the new world envisioned by the World Bank as people could be fired quickly and paid low wages. The opt-out of minimum wages would apply if a company offered a profit-sharing scheme.
Critics point out that this would mean that people would be more easily exploited, forced to take poorly paid jobs and possibly unable to afford basic necessities. It would also mean prejudices and unfair dismissals could increase unchecked, as companies could hire and fire on a whim.
Protection against robots and AI
However, the World Bank says that its ideas are to make employees more competitive and thus more attractive to companies in the face of increasing technology use. If employees continue to be expensive to hire and to keep on with high wages and employment rights, companies would be more likely to favour robots and AI.
Another area of interest for the World Bank are zero-hour contracts, which have come under severe criticism in the UK over the past few years. The World Bank is keen to look at increasing the number of working relationships that are not traditional employee/employer relationships with the aim of decreasing the overall cost of labour to a business.
Zero-hour contracts
The World Bank’s hypothesis is that increasing numbers of zero-hour contracts would produce a more dynamic labour market as part of an overall programme of deregulation of the labour market. Although critics state that this would result in wide-spread lowering of workers’ incomes, the World Bank insists that this would be off-set by a basic level of social insurance that would be paid for by ‘regressive consumption taxes’.
Source
https://recruitingtimes.org/recruitment-and-hr-legal-updates/23470/the-world-bank-thinks-that-there-are-too-many-regulations-that-protect-workers/
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Despite the improvement in confidence in the UK economy this month, half (50%) of UK employers expressed concerns over the sufficient availability of candidates for permanent hire – up 8 points than in the same period last year, reported in this month’s Jobs Outlook report from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.
The sectors that were of particular concern to hirers were roles in the public service areas of health and social care and education. Those who recruit temporary workers, also shared this growing concern with two thirds (66%) of employers also worried about the availability of candidates – this was up from 32% in the same period last year.
The proportion of employers who believe economic conditions in the UK are getting better has continued to remain positive for the second consecutive rolling quarter. 32% of employers – up 2 points from last month are feeling more confident in the future prospects of the UK economy. Confident employers want to grow, but are held back from the lack of candidate availability.
REC director of policy, Tom Hadley, said, “It is great to see that employers are feeling more confident in making hiring decisions within their businesses. However there is a growing concern with the lack of candidates available for key roles, this is one of the biggest challenges facing the UK jobs market.
“With skills needs and candidate expectations continuing to evolve, employers are having to innovate to attract the right people, particularly when competition between businesses for candidates is intensifying. The government can help by ensuring the future UK workplace has the skills needed and put in place a balanced and evidence-based immigration system post-Brexit.
“It is encouraging to see employers continue to feel more optimistic about the UK economy which has translates in to having a positive impact on hiring intentions for both permanent and temporary staff. We want the UK jobs market to remain a success story but we must act now to address looming challenges that will impact on both demand and supply of staff.”
Source: https://www.recruitment-international.co.uk/blog/2018/06/half-of-uk-employers-cant-find-skilled-workers-they-need-says-rec
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Built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Doncaster Works to a design of H.N. Gresley, it was employed on long-distance express trains on the LNER and its successors, British Railways Eastern and North-Eastern Regions, notably on the London to Edinburgh Flying Scotsman train service after which it was named.
The locomotive set two world records for steam traction, becoming the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated at reaching 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h) on 30 November 1934, and then setting a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles (679 km) on 8 August 1989 while in Australia.
Retired from regular service in 1963 after covering 2,076,000 miles (3,341,000 km), Flying Scotsman gained considerable fame in preservation under the ownership of Alan Pegler, William McAlpine, Tony Marchington and finally the National Railway Museum (NRM). As well as hauling enthusiast specials in the United Kingdom, the locomotive toured extensively in the United States and Canada (from 1969 to 1973) and Australia (from 1988 to 1989).
To find out more about Flying Scotsman trips with The Cathedrals Express,www.steamdreams.co.uk
To find out more about the Flying Scotsman, go to www.flyingscotsman.org.uk.
Whilst this locomotive is rostered for the steam hauled sections of the trip listed, it cannot be guaranteed and may be substituted for a different engine.
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"Hi Mike
This is to formalize what I told you on the phone this morning that, after four years of working for you in what was going to be my retirement, this is the moment when I stop. I have other activities on-going in my retirement, and other things I want to do, so I am going to concentrate on those.
Please accept my sincere thanks for all the work you have provided me with over these years. It has been a pleasure dealing with you, and the work has been varied and interesting, allowing me to do things, see places and meet new people that I wouldn’t otherwise have done. You have been a pleasure to deal with, and I will miss your friendly voice at the end of the phone. Please thank Sue, also, for the efficient accounts department that she oversees. Not once over these years has the Friday payment been missed and, on the odd occasion where there has been some discrepancy, this has been promptly rectified.
My very best wishes to you both, and for the continuing success of MAS.
Kind regards
Hugh Anscombe"
Our congratulations to Hugh on finally deciding to retire and take things easier. At 74 years young, you have outshone and outworked many a younger worker and we wish you all the very best. If you need us anytime or get bored or fancy something new, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Herewith the first issue of the Department of Employment - Employment Agency Licence to MAS Recruitment. The licence process was abolished in 1994. Back in 1989 in order to open an employment agency, which was the term used for Agency and Business (Temp & Perm) you had to supply satisfactory employer references, bankers references and trade references in order to trade in this sector. You were required to implement and follow the Employment Agency Act 1973, although still valid in UK law, there have been many changes within the sector, including a variety of amendments to the Act and many new EU directives and statutory regulations that governs the industry today. How things have changed.
"Although my circumstances have now changed and I no longer work for MAS Recruitment, I would not hesitate to contact them again in the future, if things were to change and would recommend them to anyone looking for work in the local area. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at MAS recruitment for their efforts in finding me work over the years and wish them success in the future."
"Just a short note to commend you on the excellent standard of service received from you, over the last few weeks. We have relied upon your company to produce reliable and enthusiastic staff to fill in where necessary. The standard of work which we required your staff to do was met, without hesitation by them and to our satisfaction. Please pass on our thanks to all your staff that have been involved with our company"
"The two drivers that delivered Mrs Unwins' washing machine are a credit to your agency and she was grateful for their excellent customer service and quick response to the leaking tap." JLP -Theale Service Manager
"Dear Mike, Thank you for the chance to meet with you as the representative of MAS. I appreciate the time you spent reviewing my CV and on finding suitable work for me. Thanks for being such a great job agency partner. Warmest regards." Mihal (Poland)
"Just a quick note to say thank you very much for finding me a very nice job quickly. Thanks to your actions you have brought me and my boy out of the dark and into a new world! We can now have a better standard of life." Mr Deer (Caversham)
"MAS assisted us recently with the appointment of a permanent Driver/Warehouse person at our site in Thatcham. We were impressed with the level of suitability of the candidates and also how well briefed they were prior to interview." MJF Data Management
"Good reports back regarding the labourers you supplied, they all worked very hard and did a good job. The best labourers we have ever worked with, excellent workers"
- Arena Promotional Facilities limited
"I write to say thank you to everyone at MAS for the excellent speedy service in placing me in temporary employment, not only did your company phone me first, it also paid me on time (unlike another agency I could mention) Should I ever need to do short term work in the future, you will be the first company I contact." Mr C A Cornwall
" I worked for MAS recruitment for almost ten years and in that time, I found Mike and Sue and the whole team to be friendly, helpful and extremely professional. My circumstances meant that at times I would work on other projects and then return to MAS, on such occasions this was never a problem and I was always welcomed back with a smile and the promise of further work, which was duly provided. As well as the level of professionalism shown by the team at MAS Recruitment, I also found fellow drivers and workers to be similarly pleasant, friendly and hard-working, meaning there was a real team spirit and camaraderie on a regular basis"
"Hello Mike how are you? Thank you for this job. I am very like and I am happy. Staff is very friendly. I don't know what my supervisor think about me, is she happy with my job? Thank you for this great job - Daiva"
"MAS helped me find work instantly. The process was quick and easy and I was working within days of my application. since being with them I have had nothing short of great service. Any queries I had were swiftly dealt with and in a professional manner, Regards Pawel"
"Hi Mike, by the way its a couple of weeks from being here six months, not bad for 4-6 weeks work, many thanks for the contract" Tom Cook 4th October 2017
"Congratulations Tom on your recent permanent transfer" 2nd January 2018
Proof that Temp to Perm really does deliver results.
"There is only one word I could use to describe the person you have sent me that is PERFECT, he is also proactive, helpful and I could not wish for a better person!" Paul GM
"Mike, it looks like you have struck gold there! This candidate has a lot of very relevant experience. I would definitely, definitely be interested in seeing him" C. Lake
Glad to help - this candidate started with this client permanently in January 2016.
" A big thank you to you and all your guys with their help with the movement of the John Lewis vans during December and January. I will have no hesitation in contracting with you again in the future when we next get a big order" Peter Van Sales Specialist
You guys know who you are and this thank you is for you. Job well done from Mike and Sue
MAS are proud supporters of many different charitable organisations including:
Children's Wish Foundation, St Peters School - Uganda, Reading Football Club, The Samaritans, Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service, Riding for the Disabled, T.V.A.P, Macmillan Cancer Support, The Future Hope School - India, London Irish Rugby Club Academy, Cure Leukaemia, The Oratory School 150th anniversary, Bath University Library, Breast Cancer Awareness,