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Vacancies: Internet

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 12 January 2026UIN 102694

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to help tackle online job advertisements where the company has no intent to hire.

Answered by Kate Dearden

Job boards and employment businesses are already prohibited from advertising jobs that do not exist or lack proper authorisation to advertise, with state enforcement by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.

Additional safeguards come from consumer protection and ASA codes, which address misleading or unfair adverts.

Individuals misled by fake job postings may also have civil remedies, depending on the circumstances.

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