Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS) is responsible for seeking compliance with the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (as amended). This legislation requires recruitment agencies to abide by specified minimum standards. EAS is the state regulator of employment agencies and employment businesses in Great Britain and sits within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

EAS works with recruitment agencies, hirers and work-seekers to ensure compliance with employment rights, particularly for vulnerable agency workers, and that those using private recruitment agencies to find work are treated fairly.

The EAS investigates complaints received (usually from workers), and acts on intelligence or information received, about the practices of recruitment agencies and carries out proactively targeted inspections. Employment agencies and employment businesses are expected to take prompt action to fully comply with relevant legislation where any breaches are brought to their attention by the EAS. Enforcement action is regarded as a tool of last resort.