The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has urged UCATT to do more to promote the role that good agencies can play in the construction sector.

The calls come as the construction union, while welcoming HMRC’s move to double the number of tax evasion officers it employs, slammed the REC for claiming that construction workers choose to be self-employed. The union says this directly contradicts HMRC guidelines, which clearly state that employment status is “not a matter of choice” but “depends upon the terms and conditions of the relevant engagement”.

Tom Hadley, director of policy and professional services at the REC, told Recruiter: “The HMRC announcement has nothing to do with employment status issues. Somehow making that a key theme is a bit bemusing.

“Workers in the construction sector mostly choose to work as limited companies because it makes sense for them financially. The idea that UCATT promotes, that agencies coerce people into working as self-employed, is completely wide of the mark.

“A lot of construction recruiters are quite happy for people to come on as PAYE. The reality is that it is generally driven by the individuals themselves. That is where we have a disagreement.

“We think UCATT should actively promote the role that good agencies can play in that space. A lot of people in construction have worked freelance and are self-employed. One thing we know is that if you work through an agency you have support and protection.

“If you work for a good agency, they make you aware of health and safety risks; you’re probably in a better place than if you are an individual going off to work with direct users on different building sites.”

He added: “We have offered to meet with UCATT.”