REGISTRY RAMP

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1938, Page 8

REGISTRY RAMP

Thousands of domestic servants, many earning only 7s 6d a week, are being deprived of from 5 to 15 per cent of their year’s earnings by employment agencies which find them jobs (says an' English exchange). They are powerless to fight the agencies, which make them pay the fees or refuse to find them work Mistresses are also the victim of the employment agency racket. They are charged anything from 5 per cent upwards on their servant’s annual earnings. This means that from mistress and maid the employment agencies are raking up thousands of pounds a year, and until the law is altered no one can do a thing to stop the ramp. Inquirers at several employment agencies recently were told: “We- are quite within our rights in making these charges. We have high expenses and do not think the charges are excessive.” One girl spoken to said that she had three jobs in 12 months, and each time she had to pay £2 for the introduction. That meant that in a year she had paid the employment agency £6 out of her earnings of £4O.

The most serious aspect of this registry racket is that the girls are “dunned” for the money if they do not pay at once. The agent telephones them at the home of their employer, sends them bills and threatening letters.