Jobseekers are controversially being offered posts in the sex industry by Government-run job centres.
Jobcentre Plus is facing fierce criticism after it was found to be advertising jobs for an internet-based phone sex company which offers its clients the opportunity to have sex chats with “just legal” girls.
The company is recruiting women, men and couples to perform “nude or semi-nude” in front of webcams, and the adverts boast that applicants could earn up to £100 per day.
Applications
Some jobseekers have been handed applications for the degrading jobs whilst signing on at Jobcentre Plus offices in Birmingham, Warwickshire and Shropshire.
The ads, which say applicants will be required to perform “activities you feel comfortable with” whilst naked in front of a webcam, have provoked a storm of controversy.
A spokesman for charity Rape Crisis slammed the adverts, warning they gave people the wrong idea about the sex industry.
Exploitative
“Adverts like this validate the notion that sexually exploitative ‘work’ is an acceptable career,” the spokesman said.
A 19-year-old woman, who was looking for clerical work, was among those offered an application.
The young woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “My job in a call centre is a fixed-term contract that’s coming to an end and I’ve just taken out a car loan so I’m desperate for work.”
Disgusting
“But I’m not so desperate that I’m prepared to perform disgusting acts on an internet sex line”, she said.
Her outrage has been echoed by Birmingham MP Khalid Mahmood, who has demanded an official inquiry.
Mr Mahmood said: “I am absolutely flabbergasted. We’ve already got enough issues with young adults being used by unscrupulous people in the sex industry.”
Beyond
“To now discover job centres are encouraging people to get into this is almost beyond belief”, he added.
But a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions claimed they could not withdraw the controversial ads, saying: “If an advert is legal then we have to advertise it.
“Adult entertainment jobs are clearly marked that applicants have to be 18 or over. Our staff do not actively promote these vacancies to our customers.”