Public and Commercial Services Union

Department for Work and Pensions group Universal Jobmatch: Update 17 January 2013 PCS has received many queries and concerns from members regarding the use of Universal Jobmatch (UJ). This circular provides an update on recent issues. Jobseeker Directions and Mandatory Use of UJ PCS was aware that, despite assurances otherwise from the UJ project of DWP, management in some jobcentre districts were instructing advisers to tell claimants that UJ is mandatory and access must given to the DWP. As a result of legal challenges and negative press attention, DWP have revised the guidance on UJ to make it clear that this cannot be done. The UJ Jobmatch toolkit chapter 3, paragraph 50, states: You cannot issue a Jobseekers Direction to either require a claimant to create a profile and CV in Universal Jobmatch or to mandate a claimant to give us access to their account this is their decision not ours. Paragraph 52 also states that We cannot specify to a JSA claimant how they provide us with records of their jobsearch activity and Universal Jobmatch will not change this. PCS is awaiting clarification from DWP management on the status of the many Jobseeker Directions that were incorrectly issued to claimants before the guidance was clarified. PCS members should contact their local representative to challenge any instruction to inform claimants that the use of UJ or access to it is mandatory. Further UJ issues PCS remains concerned with many security and checking aspects of UJ, including: How claimants data is protected in terms of reported data-fishing by bogus employers The recent high profile bogus and unsavoury adverts placed and the checks are in place to ensure that these are not placed on the system again. Compliance with minimum wage and the terms and conditions of the use of the site Process of accepting cookies and EU data protection principles

As yet, DWP have refused to meet with PCS again on UJ and have stated they will respond in writing to our concerns. We believe this to be unacceptable, as problems with UJ impact daily on PCS members, with some claimants becoming frustrated and even abusive due to difficulties they experience using the system. PCS will continue to push management further on this and request that any further issues are reported to your PCS rep or to DWP Group Office at leeds@pcs.org.uk. Sourced From: http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwpnews.cfm/id/78E359C6-7B09-4FC6-98EBD4696432C199