Valerie raises Jobmatch website at Leader’s Questions

At Leader’s Questions on 4 September 2014, Valerie raised the issue of the Government’s Jobmatch website having been contacted by one of her constituents.

Valerie asked:

“Could we have an urgent debate on the Universal Jobmatch website? My constituent Wendy Perrins was made redundant in June. She has applied for 29 jobs, some of which were duplicates, while others had been posted before. Mr. Speaker, why should our constituents be sanctioned if the website is not fit for purpose while they are desperately seeking jobs?”

Valerie said: “I am pleased the Leader of the House the Rt Hon William Hague MP replied that he would draw my points to his colleagues. The website has been the subject of an investigation by Channel 4 News who found that duplicate jobs were posted and other jobs require applicants to provide money upfront which is against the rules of the website. Channel 4 obtained a leaked National Audit Office Document: “The Universal Jobmatch system and bogus and non-compliant posting”. It stated that “there is no formal guidance on the depth or nature” of the checks performed on firms advertising on the Jobmatch service. The terms and conditions which govern posting ads on Jobmatch ban fake, unclear, and duplicate ads, as well as those that require up-front investment.

Channel 4 News obtained a leaked National Audit Office Document: “The Universal Jobmatch system and bogus and non-compliant posting”. It stated that “there is no formal guidance on the depth or nature” of the checks performed on firms advertising on the Jobmatch service. My constituent found examples of this when she tried to find a job. It cannot be right that those seeking work can have their benefits removed if they do not actively look for work. But they cannot find work because some jobs do not exist.”