ARE the jobs advertised in Jobcentres really jobs?

On a recent visit to the Darwen Jobcentre, I wrote down the reference number of four 'jobs,' then had the receptionist key them into the computer.

All four were for other employment agencies, and anyone who is conversant with these agencies will know that they do not have any real jobs on offer to the public.

You may be lucky and get a few days with the same company or you may get a phone call at four o'clock in the morning, asking you to be at some company 10 miles away at five o'clock.

I can see no valid reason for a Government-sponsored job centre doing the advertising for a privately-funded employment agency.

Whatever the reason, I visit a job centre to get a proper job and not to be put in contact with an employment agency.

JIM GOLDEN, Lower Cross Street, Darwen.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.