The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has granted authorisation* to the Recruitment & Consulting Services Association for its Code for Ethical Conduct and procedures for enforcing this code, ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, said today.
"The ACCC is satisfied that the standards set out in the code are unlikely to restrict competition in the employment services industry. In addition, the RCSA's enforcement processes appear fair and transparent. Overall, the ACCC is satisfied that potential for anti-competitive detriment to arise from the code and enforcement processes is likely to be minimal.
"The ACCC is also satisfied that RCSA's Code and enforcement processes generate a public benefit that is more than minimal, although it recognises that it is difficult to predict the precise size of the public benefit at this early stage of the code's existence. In particular, the code appears likely to assist in ensuring that businesses operating within the employment services industry act ethically and professionally".
The Code for Ethical Conduct outlines a number professional standards to which members agree to adhere. They include that members to act honestly in all dealings, respect work relationships, ensure that workers are given details of their work conditions etc.
The RCSA is an industry association for recruitment agencies, private employment agencies and labour hire firms. The RCSA currently has around 3200 members across Australia and New Zealand.