British HC warns of rogue job agents fleecing Lankans

COLOMBO: The British High Commission yesterday warned of bogus recruitment agencies defrauding Sri Lankans seeking work in the UK.

A High Commission spokesperson said they have received an increased number of complaints about so-called UK recruitment agents offering jobs that do not exist.

“Some claim to be acting on behalf of well-known international companies, while others are offering au pair or hospitality jobs,” the spokesperson said.

In several recent cases people have given recruitment agents large sums, and have never heard back from them.

“We advise people who are approached by recruitment agents claiming to be able to get them jobs in the UK to check that the agents are registered with the ‘Recruitment and Employment Confederation’.

This can be done on their website www.rec.uk.com, or by telephone 0044 20 7009 2100. All reputable UK recruitment agents are members and signed up to an ethical code,” the spokesperson said.

Under UK law recruitment agents are not allowed to charge jobseekers for finding work (except in relation to theatrical performers and models and in certain cases au pairs).

They are not allowed to make their services conditional upon jobseekers using other chargeable services e.g. CV writing or training courses.

“As a rule, if a job seems too good to be true - it probably is,” the spokesperson said.

“Recruitment agents are not able to obtain visas for the UK on behalf of jobseekers. We advise people not to send any money or their passports for this reason,” the spokesperson said.

UK visa info

Information on how to apply for a UK visa in Sri Lanka can be obtained by calling 331 from a Dialog phone or by visiting the VFS website at www.vfs-uk-lk.com.