Adverts for jobs that involve sexual stimulation have been banned from taxpayer-funded jobcentres in response to “significant public concern”.
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The ban, which was announced yesterday, means that the Jobcentre Plus network will no longer advertise jobs that involve “direct sexual stimulation” – such as strippers and lap-dancers.
Chris Grayling, the Minister for Employment, said: “It’s absolutely wrong that the Government advertises jobs that could support the exploitation of people.
Stop
“We’ve taken immediate action today to stop certain adult entertainment vacancies from being advertised through Jobcentre Plus.
“We shouldn’t put vulnerable people in an environment where they’re exposed to these types of jobs and could feel under pressure to work in the sex industry.”
The ban was brought in after a public consultation revealed concern over the controversial ads appearing in jobcentres.
However, the ban doesn’t include related non-sexual jobs, so jobcentres will continue to host ads for jobs such as bouncers, cleaners or shop workers.
Attacked
But Peter Stringfellow, who owns a chain of lap-dancing clubs, has attacked the ban.
He said: “This is the sort of interference I would have expected from a Labour Government, not a Conservative one”.
He added: “I’m sure a jobcentre is quite capable of advising a girl about what they are getting into.”
Banned
Adverts for x-rated jobs were banned from jobcentres until 2003, but the ban was lifted following a legal challenge by the lingerie and sex toy shop Ann Summers.
Official figures show that in 2008 jobcentres advertised more than 350 adult jobs.
Earlier this year it was revealed that jobseekers were being offered x-rated posts by Government-run jobcentres.
Jobcentre Plus was advertising jobs for an internet-based phone sex company which offered its clients the opportunity to have sex chats with “just legal” girls.
The company was recruiting women, men and couples to perform “nude or semi-nude” in front of webcams, and the adverts boasted that applicants could earn up to £100 per day.