Green Party: Employment figures don’t mask job market built on sand

15 February 2017

* Employment may be up but almost 4 million [1] people have insecure jobs which barely make ends meet

The Green Party has said figures [1] which show employment is at the highest rate ever should not be allowed to mask the insecurity facing so many families in Britain today as wage growth slows.

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:

“These latest figures should not mask a job market built on sand. Wage growth has slowed just as the inflation rate hits its highest level in two years. Almost 4 million [2] people are still in insecure jobs which barely allow them to make ends meet. People need quality jobs they can build a life on.

“With the Government threatening to push Britain off the Brexit cliff-edge the endemic insecurity across the country risks getting much worse, as people’s livelihoods are sold down the river by a Prime Minister threatening to turn this country into an offshore tax haven.

“In this age of insecurity we should be thinking big about how we build an economy that works for everyone. That’s why the Government should follow the lead of countries like Finland which are investigating the merits of introducing a basic income, to stop people falling into poverty, while providing the choice, security and stability they need.”

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News story: Bedford man pleads guilty to providing illegal immigration advice

Unqualified immigration adviser pleads guilty to providing unregulated immigration advice.

Mr Ziaur Rahman, aged 37, of Wendover Drive, Bedford, pleaded guilty at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 24 January 2017, to two offences of providing unregulated immigration advice between 5 June 2012 and the 28 December 2012.

Mr Rahman was previously regulated by the OISC but this ceased on 21 February 2012 however he continued to provide immigration advice unlawfully.

On 14 February 2017 Mr Rahman was sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment on each count suspended for 12 months, to run consecutively. He was also ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work within the next 12 months, and to pay compensation to the victims of £480 and £1352. He was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1581.

When sentencing magistrates said:

“These were serious offences against two vulnerable victims. Mr Rahman knew the implications and devastating consequences for the persons he advised when he knew he was no longer qualified.”

Speaking about the decision, Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner Dr Ian Leigh said:

“This is not a technical or victimless crime, Ziaur Rahman was advising vulnerable people who could not handle their immigration cases on their own. They trusted him and he betrayed that trust. I am delighted with the outcome in this case.”



News story: CMA updates register of advisory and warning letters

The CMA has updated its register of competition law advisory and warning letters with details for 2016.

The register lists the letters that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) sent out in 2016 to companies it was concerned might be breaking competition law, along with details of the relevant sector and the suspected behaviour of concern.

The CMA sends advisory and warning letters to businesses where it is concerned that their practices may be harming competition, but where a full formal investigation would not currently be justified under its prioritisation principles. However, such letters do not preclude the possibility of a formal investigation at a later date.

Letters contain a deadline by which the business should confirm receipt and, in the case of warning letters, explain what steps it is taking to ensure it is complying with the law.

Both advisory and warning letters may also be sent in connection with a formal investigation; these are noted on the registers where relevant, and some CMA case pages and communications may also refer to these.

Further information on the CMA’s use of advisory and warning letters is available on the guidance page.



News story: February 2017 Labour Market Statistics for Scotland

The Scottish unemployment rate is 4.9 per cent, above the rate of 4.8 per cent for the whole of the UK.

The labour market statistics also show that employment in Scotland increased by 8,000 over the three months to December 2016. The number of those in employment in Scotland now stands at 2,611,000.

The Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, said:

There is cause for some cautious optimism about the state of Scotland’s labour market, with employment up and more women returning to the labour market.

However, declining economic activity during the last 12 months, and the gap between the Scottish and UK labour markets, remains a concern.

We have devolved a raft of new powers to the Scottish Parliament. It now needs to use those levers to strengthen the Scottish economy.

Headline statistics for the October to December 2016 quarter:

• Employment in Scotland increased by 8,000 over the quarter, and fell by 20,000 over the year, to stand at 2,611,000.

• The Scottish employment rate increased by 0.1 pp over the quarter to 73.6 per cent. The rate is below the UK average of 74.6 per cent.

• Unemployment in Scotland rose by 6,000 over the quarter and is down 27,000 over the year. The level now stands at 135,000.

• At 4.9 per cent, the Scottish unemployment rate is above the UK’s rate of 4.8 per cent.

• Economic activity increased by 13,000 over the quarter and now stands at 2,746,000. Also, the economic activity rate decreased over the year to stand at 77.6 per cent.

• In January 2017, the number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance was 50,100 and claimant count, including Universal Credit was 76,400.

Latest Data for Scotland:

Employment

The Labour Force Survey indicates that the number of people in employment in Scotland from October to December 2016 was 2,611,000. Employment was up by 8,000 compared to the previous three months, and down by 20,000 compared to the same quarter last year. The employment rate was up 0.1 percentage points on the previous quarter, and down by 1.0 percentage points compared the same quarter last year. By comparison, the Scottish employment rate is below the UK average of 74.6 per cent.

Unemployment

Unemployment in Scotland was up by 6,000 over the quarter October to December 2016 at 135,000. The level was down 27,000 on the same quarter last year. The unemployment rate was up 0.2 p.p. on the previous quarter at 4.9 per cent, which is down 0.9 p.p. over the year.

Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit

The number of people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) fell by 2,100 to 50,100 in January 2017. The level is down by 10,400 on January 2016. The claimant count level (JSA and Universal Credit) is down 4,300 over the month at 76,400 and the rate is down 0.2 p.p. over the month and up 0.1 p.p. the year to 2.7 per cent.

Economic Activity

The number of economically active (defined as those in employment or ILO unemployed, and seasonally adjusted) in Scotland in the October to December 2016 quarter was 2,746,000. This was up 13,000 on the previous quarter, and down by 47,000 on prior year levels. Among those aged 16-64 the economic activity rate was 77.6 per cent, up 0.2 pp on the previous quarter, and down 1.7 pp over the year.



Government must now act to stop the growing pressure on low and middle income families – Abrahams

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work
and Pensions Secretary, commenting on today’s Labour Market Statistics,
said:

“We welcome the overall increase in
employment, but are concerned that wide regional differences in the numbers of
people in work remain.  

“It is also worrying to see that rising
living costs are quickly catching up with wage growth. If this trend continues,
the Government’s abysmal record on living standards will get even worse. 

“With wages set to be lower in 2021 than
before the Tories came to power, they must now act to stop the growing pressure
on low and middle income families. 

“That’s why Labour is urging the
Government to reverse cuts to in-work support that could see some working
families worse off by £2,600 a year.”