GOVERNMENT has changed the way it recruits temporary agency staff – to ensure it secures the most competitive rate for the grade required.
But there has been concerns that the new policy could result in agencies cutting the rates they pay for their temps.
In the last 12 months there have been, on average, about 70 temps engaged each week across the whole of government to cover short term staffing absences or peaks in workload.
This figure has declined compared with previous years. In 2008/09, for example, the average was more than 100.
Previously, the former contract provided for Hamblin to be the main supplier but where they were unable to supply temps, departments could search and select from other agencies.
Now Procurement Services, on behalf of the Office of Human Resources, has put in place a select list of agencies to provide temporary administrative and secretarial staff to government.
Under the new policy, government departments have to contact the agency with the lowest rate for the grade required.
If that agency is unable to provide a temporary staff member then the department will proceed to the next lowest, and so on until they are successful.
The changes came into effect last month.
Jon Callister, chief officer at the Office of Human Resources, said the use of a preferred supplier list aimed to reduce overdependence on single suppliers and ensure agencies offer competitive rates to help departments meet their savings targets.
He said: ‘In the course of preparing this select list, the agencies involved submitted their rates for each of the four categories concerned (AA, AO, Sec. and Sen. Sec.). These rates remain constant for 12 months and will be reviewed at the end of this period.
‘The use of a preferred supplier list was agreed on the advice of Procurement Services who advised this would better meet the Government Procurement Policy which among other things has the aim to reduce overdependence on single vendor while opting to engage multiple suppliers for the delivery of the same goods or service through a framework, encouraging new small and medium enterprises to enter the market, re-tendering rather than extending contracts, and unbundling procurement requirements into smaller packages or lots.
‘In the current economic climate and government’s target to make savings in spending, this select list has been put in place to ensure competitive rates offered by the agencies assist in meeting such targets.’
But there have been concerns raised that the new policy will lead to temping agencies undercutting each other to provide the lowest offer, meaning a bottom line lower pay for the temps.
Mr Callister said he could not comment as this was a matter for the agencies.