Redundancy advice calls ‘more than double’

The Citizens Advice Bureau in England and Wales has revealed it has seen a significant increase in employment-related enquiries over the past year.

New figures show between April 2008 and March 2009 the service recorded a 114 per cent increase in calls relating to redundancy – 83,024 new enquiries in 2008-9 compared to 38,745 in 2007-8.

The organisation’s chief executive David Harker said: “These new figures show the human impact of the recession as more people are coming to the Citizens Advice service for help.”

Statistics also show a 17 per cent increase in contact regarding dismissal and a 61 per cent increase in the volume of enquires about Jobseekers Allowance.

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In April, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) welcomed the government’s announcement of a register to name and shame people or employers who fail to pay employment tribunal awards.

Midlands TUC regional secretary Roger McKenzie said too many people are being hit by the “double whammy” of employers acting illegally and then refusing to pay up when they are found out.