As a resume writer and employment expert, the main blockers to client employment in Australia, are private recruiters and job agencies. I treat both with contempt. They should be investigated by a Royal Commission. The story below is from The New Daily (8 May 2020).
Australians suddenly without work during the coronavirus pandemic say they are being ‘threatened and harassed’ into filling out job applications – despite a freeze on the dole prerequisite.
The Federal Government suspended mutual obligations for those receiving JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payments until May 22, meaning payments cannot be cancelled or reduced if recipients do not meet the requirements.
Mutual obligations include attending meetings with your employment provider, applying for 20 jobs per month and performing activities like Work For the Dole. But unemployed Australians have reported receiving pushy calls from job agencies. They say they’ve been told to sign-up to job plans or risk “consequences”.
Jobseeker agencies across the country will reap at least $210 million of taxpayer money from the pandemic, with almost 1 million Australians out of work, a recent report from think tank Per Capita revealed.
Alex North, 25, told The New Daily that he was “guilt-tripped” by one agency in New South Wales to sign-up, and initially had his payment threatened.
“(They said) I’ve called you up to sign you up to a brand new job plan,” Mr North said. “And I’m just letting you know if you don’t sign this plan, there are consequences. I want to quickly get through this with you as soon as possible so we can get you on the right track to make sure that your payment isn’t affected.”
Mr North, who volunteers for the Unemployed Workers Union, said he told the provider that mutual job requirements were suspended until May 22.
“Immediately when I said that, my caseworker got extremely defensive,” Mr North said. “I could tell immediately that my provider had no idea what was going on.”
Under the controversial program, about 40 private companies and not-for-profits receive government funding for helping find Australians work. They receive an extra lump sum of $1,515 per person when they are successful.
The effectiveness of the program has been debated, with a Senate inquiry in March 2019 finding it “not fit for purpose”.
Job seekers can contact the National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260 if they have any concerns about their provider.