Universal Jobmatch Worse than We Thought.
The Void publishes the Trade Union, PCS, advice that the Universal JobMatch is not compulsory.
We understand that the security of the information given to this site remains insecure.
There are background issues which raise even more worries about this ‘service’ set up by an American company for the UK government.
The PCS has sent out this circular on Universal Jobmatch,
On its introduction, members of staff were encouraged to set up their own accounts to demonstrate the use of UJ to claimants. It has came to light recently that accessing your own records (or that of friends or family) using the UJ icon on your desktop is subject to the same security restrictions as other departmental system such as JSAPS or LMS. Staff are permitted to set up and access their own UJ account, but it must be done through the internet browser and jobsearch activity must be done in their own time.
PCS has asked that DWP provide clarification to their managers, in addition to the ‘implementation updates’ they have issued already. They have stated that the advice to set up an account and demonstrate its use to the claimant was local and not from the UJ project. Clearly, we believe that no action should be taken against a member of staff where they have been misadvised by their manager.
And,
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.
An excellent introductory guide to the Universal Jobmatch is published by the Solidarity Federation, well-worth reading at, here.
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The whole thing with these websites, and UJ is no different, is that it’s about collecting personal details and selling them on. It’s all quite legal I’m sure, but it’s unacceptable to compel jobseekers by threats of sanction to participate in this.
I was trying to click on ‘Apply’ but got nowhere at all. UJM not working!
It has been slow at times recently.the best thing to do is keep the cv not searchable and keep the dwp out.this site is a free for all and those responsible couldn’t care less about its contents’ only happy to highlight so called “trip wires”,sitting back disclaiming allowing a shoddy system of verification and individuals to hide behind company confidential.those behind this are only interested in creating opportunities’ in the media to bash the unemployed and divide those affected as unworthy with a we’re born to lead your born to work mentality.
KEN, AS THE LIBRARY COMPUTER DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL PROPERLY WITH THE UJM SITE. IF WHEN USING IT SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND YOU GOT A SANCTION WOULD THE LIBRARY BE FULLY RERSPONSIBLE FOR OR COULD BE HELD TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SANCTION
there’s two in the job centre here,i don’t now about anywhere else.only at a4e.cannot see you receiving a sanction as long as if you’ve applied and importantly have proof,print the page off or keep proof of posting.
a few years back an advisor tried to get me to fill in a sheet saying i applied and didn’t get the job,on turning over it was filled in with details of the vacancy for the decision maker,the devious adviser replied “arr”very luckily i had a letter saying i was unsuccessful went home and got it,i never got got caught with that one.the usual blame them not us followed from the job centre despite the underhanded behaviour.
Whereas as an ‘employer’ you could join and put up fake jobs.
“Young girls wanted, for interesting work in the personal care of the elderly and isolated.
Please contact Mr G. Glitter (Paul Francis Gadd)….”
“Desperate and lonely sad individual seeks a sexual surrogate (male) for oral and hand relief. Please apply to Mr I. D. Smith”
“Former nuclear bollard seeks a steamroller to run her over. Send CV to M. H. Thatcher.”
“Toxic waste dump sighted, we believe it to be Michael Howard. Brave individuals required to dispose of it.”
“Shelf Stacker wanted. Zero hour contract, NMW exempt. 40 hours a week or zero hours a week, it varies. Pay £0.00 per hour. Please do apply if you are called Emma and used to run A4E. At less busy times, will be required to clean out toilet bowls using face.”
“Bespin requires Cloud Miners, must have CSCS Card, safety boots, and no more than 3 points on your X-Wing licence. Applications by hologram projection, FAO Mr L. Calrissian.”
“Busy nightclub seeks erotic slave girl dancers. Applicants should note that there is the risk of being fed to monsters. Preferably able to communicate in Huttese.”
“Talented people required with large roll of sticky tape, to fix Broken Britain.”
“Bored farm seeks chicken exciters.”
“Tutor wanted, to teach ballet to a brick.”
“Production line operatives are needed at the Go-Faster Striped Paint Factory.”
“Lecturer in Nailing Jelly to the Wall.”
“Professor of Herding Cats.”
“Cabin Crew currently being recruited, Porcine Aviation.”
“Charm School wants someone to teach charm skills or even basic people skills to Ian Duncan Smith. Failing that, to charm warts onto him.”
“Torysnuff is a young dynamic exciting company, modelled on ‘skull and bones’. We specialise in the termination and taxidermy of tories. Collect a whole set today!”
“We are looking to hire a Witch who can turn Ian Duncan Smith, Mark Hoban, Chris Grayling
etc into slugs.”
“Third leg required. Will swap for a secondhand used Nick Clegg.”
“Prestigious educational establishment seeks an experienced Potions tutor (in these financially straitened times we would accept a failed unabomber), who can also function from time to time as a supply teacher in both Defence Against the Dark Arts, and the Remedial Class in Toad-Licking 101. Please apply to Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress.”
“I’m looking to get some Liberal Democrats. When I went to buy some at the local branch, they’d already all sold out!”
“I’ve got a brand new combine harvester, I’ll give you the key. Young people wanted for farm work. Live-in position, must like sleeping on sacks of manure in barn.”
“Dead deaf disabled depressed person wanted for fun job hauling bricks up scaffolding. Don’t just lie there and decompose, help us build a new workhouse!!”
“Universal Jobmatch seeks a friend to help it commit assisted suicide.”
“Person in wheelchair is urgently needed, to explain to Atos assessors what a wheelchair is.”
“Grandmothers wanted for egg-sucking research.”
“Portable riot seeks a group of young single mothers, to kick the housing minister in the face.”
“Twisted firestarter wanted, apply by leaving a message addressed to V.”
“Actress wanted, Shirley Phelps lookalike, for adult themed movie on the Westboro Baptist (‘God Hates Fags’) Church. Must be prepared for lesbian scenes.”
“A. Powers is looking for his mojo. Can you help find it?”
“Beauty therapist and hairdresser, to start immediately, to work on washing the hair of Rapunzel. Must have strong arms, for holding up hair during toileting. (Job continues until your employer has her DLA terminated and replaced by PIP, at which point she will be found fit for work, shaved, and removed to a workhouse.) Essential: conversational skills, climbing, eyebrow threading, armpit waxing, ear candling, shiatsu, abseiling, rapelling, magic beans.”
“Dead skunk seeks discarded crisp packet for meaningful relationship.”
“Following on from London2012, Atos and the Work Programme are hiring a group of wheelchair users to climb Everest. Your relatives will be credited £5 on the confirmation of your deaths.”
“Stupid Deaths is looking for poor people to get themselves killed in amusing ways so it can be filmed and put on the internet for laughs.”
“Death seeks apprentices, possibly for franchises, in what promises to be a very busy year.”
“Follow the yellow brick road: a Dorothy wanted, in order to find:
Courage for the neutered cleggpuss;
Brains for the Cameron Eton Mess of a scarecrow;
a Heart for the tin beast called IDS.
Send application via flying monkey.”
“I don’t bother to read your CV as I am a prince in Nigeria so please tell me your bank details.”
“Sewer Workers wanted, must have experience eg the Sun, News of the World, Daily Mail. Preferably Tory and with the ability to paddle a sinking barbed wire canoe further back up not-chocolate creek.”
“Hehheh I am a pervert come on young ladies apply to my site!!”
“Courier urgently wanted, to deliver messages by flying carpet to the king of the potato people.”
“Are you a Certified Moron? Then please give all your personal data over to us. Here at UJM we will laugh/wank over it, and sell it on to any pervert, criminal or stalker.”
“Young lady required for waitressing [=Hi it's me, your ex. I stopped taking the pills and I feel so much better now. The goblins are back in my head, and they told me to use the restraining order as toilet paper and then track you down.]”
“Atos now recruiting, Britain wants YOUR organs, to be lovingly Harvested from your body either after, before or during your death. We have ways to make you work!”
“Business opportunity! Sell us your children and then they can be fed to other paupers!”
(Jonathan Swift did an essay satirising this)
“Philosophers wanted for team, 24-hour shift work. So far we have been unable to find any legal, moral, or other justification for the existence of Atos.”
Beats all those jokes about Horseburgers!
A few were average but the remainder were really good!!
Yes, Universal Jobmatch is worse than you thought – worse about its effectiveness at getting people back to work that is!
Many readers will have first-hand knowledge of being lectured by Work Programme advisors about the virtues of the “Hidden Jobs Market” – especially when it is emphasised that most jobs “don’t get advertised”!
That last point is the big selling point of the Hidden Jobs Market!
So, two thirds of jobs don’t get advertised, true, and of the remaining one third, Jobcentre Plus only gets a fraction of these, so the final outcome means the Jobcentre is responsible for getting a mere trickle of people back to work.
These harah facts won’t and cannot change suddenly when Universal Jobmatch comes along.
Universal Jobmatch is a big sanctions machine making it easier for the DWP to make life even more miserable for benefit claimants.
Also, from the PCS Union’s own report recently, registration with Universal Jobmatch is neither mandatory or even necessary. See paragraphs 50 and 52 mentioned in that report here:
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwp-news.cfm/id/78E359C6-7B09-4FC6-98EBD4696432C199
…and don’t forget the cookies issue – there is independent legislation about the matter of consent, and as far as I can see, it will simply not be possible (or legal) to force any web user to consent to accepting tracking cookies if their consent is not given in the first place!
Funny that how this buzz word “Hidden Jobs Market”… has always been at 2 in 3…
This ideology has been in force slightly after the infamous “on ya bike” speech and growing in popularity from towards the end of the New Deal period onwards.
In truth… its a lie. There is no such thing – its an extension of the wise phrase of “a job wont come knocking on your door” (i.e. YOU have to go LOOKING for a job)
Its true that not every employer will advertise in the job paper (pre-2000) or online, however, all jobs are advertised in some shape or form, be it externally or internally (including word of mouth and promotions).
A job unknown about will never get filled – and unknown includes not being known about by fellow work colleagues and company executives, in addition to joe public.
Its a cheap tactic dreamt up by Labour Government ministers to ensure jobseekers don’t escape punishment by claiming either: 1) there is no jobs, and 2) “I have applied for all suitable jobs” … i.e. you are unemployed so you do full time job search, not a 30-45 minute stint, one day per week; and enjoy a family life.
Its gets to a sad stage that when even the rebellious jobseekers are believing in that lie. I think the whole Hidden Job Market nonsense is a factor to most suicides, breakdowns and depression. When I analysed the old DirectGov data, over 60% were fake and non existent – and over 85% of the active vacancies (around 3/4 million) were due to them lacking an end date and appearing to have closed months ago (Some from the following year). There are jobs out there, but there really is few… and this whole DirectGov jobs and Universal Jobmatch intends to falsely inflate the numbers whilst some bad individual steal and sell your personal data while government ministers allow this sacrifice to hide the true problem.
Reply to “Universal Jobmatch”
You might find this video of some interest:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/feb/07/work-programme-hidden-jobs-video
You might also find this commentary of interest:
“The idea of “hidden jobs” is something far more common place than this video. The idea of “hidden jobs” is a pernicious phenomena, involved in the reproduction of class. Hidden jobs, are apparently 70% of all jobs. They are hidden because they are not advertised, but rather outsourced by companies to recruitment consultants or head hunters or purely internal hires. More often than not, they rely on a personal network of contacts. One does not need to fill in the gaps too much here. Like internships and “experience”, these “hidden jobs” vastly favour those from affluent backgrounds with the informational knowledge and skills of networking in the right circles to reveal the “hidden jobs”. Not only does this favour the middle classes, but also further entrenches the idea that not having a job is the fault of the individual, for failing to have enough connections, enough affect, enough skill. This is of course where there actually are “hidden jobs” – in this case they are hoovered up by those the system reproduces as class “betters” to those on benefits”.
Yeah, sadly its entry level business (GCSE Business Studies, perhaps? I thought more “common sense” than anything) “word-of-mouth” (advertising) and networking.
The person must be brainless to think the above list of examples does not constitute an “advertisement” – basically communicating marketing to others (in very basic terms).
It seems an advertisement these days to these people needs be more than a single attempt requiring big purpose-built signs on site, tv and radio ads, listing on every online job board, print ads in every job paper, newspaper and magazine etc.
Recruitment consultants and head hunters would need to advertise the job to the end person.(Nothing saying an advert needs to be aimed at huge crowds of people)
Internal hiring requires advertising internally, be it word of mouth, notice on the company intranet or noticeboard postings.
To end this comment without seeming to create class divide, the upper class and middle classes have always been better at networking and creating/maintaining contacts – than the working class; although comparisons on this scale are absolute bullshit, as I know many people for example who have gained employment in the labouring, factory, retail and office types of work, by knowing people. Some would be down to family, others past experience… I wouldn’t say it was restricted to the middle classes.
For Universal Jobmatch
My original post made the simple point that the major weakness of the new Universal Jobmatch site is its inability to offer more than a fraction of all jobs to people using the site.
You might have overlooked this simple point from your high plateau of sophisticated knowledge.
The Government wants people to think Universal Jobmatch is some vital, unique, indispensable facility to get unemployed people back to work. Clearly that is not the case.
In any event, I also made it clear by reference to the recent report from the PCS Union, that registration is neither mandatory or even necessary.
Stick to the simple point being made here.
I think what you are trying to say, simply.. in one word…
(It’s) shit!
For “Universal Jobmatch”
Yes, your crude one-word reply well describes Universal Jobmatch.
ADVISORY LIBRARY COMPUTERS IN SUFFOLK
28 January. If trying to use UJM at Ipswich County Library Today, UJM is being bounced out. You end up back on the home blue icons screen
If any have been sanctioned for not signing up to this universal jobsite then please say now as yet and im not saying its so, but have yet to meet a single person that has.
What people need to know now is that it is no more sanctionable to signoff/stop using than it is to not sign up. Their are no laws that stipulate media (ie,paper,dvd,verbal,etc) so you can demonstrate equally this evidence in printed form which if done on your own writing material gives you far better rights and unarguably better protection than the net.
On a climate/natural resources side its kinder to use paper than electrics when considering CO2 and lets not forget we dont have to cut down trees as theirs plenty of recyclable paper.
On a financial front or should i say taxpayer front it would save bundles of cash as we wouldnt need such a costly system to advertise jobs and would reduce JCPs paper consumption what with us supplying our own.
On conclusion the arguement for cannot ever be won in this instance for as long as you can demonstrate you have tryed the media on which you present it is neither here nor there
”Gaia” There is a school of thought doing the rounds at the minute, and that is a worse case senario;- That by logging on and using the UJM site [Eventually] If it does become compulsory, that in doing so you would be sigining on. This would the ”negate” the jobcentres.
I dont think the unions would like this either
How can the orwelian Universal Jobmatch ever be compulsary? as it uses cookies, And to force a person to accept cookies on their computer is illegal.
IPSWICH STAR WEBSITE USES COOKIES TOO. I USE A COMPUTER PROVIDED BY HOUSING ASSOCIATION. WON’T FUNCTION PROPERLY. TOO MANY COOKIES
DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF IT’S AN EU REQUIREMENT FOR COOKIES ON COMPUTERS USED WITHIN THE EU. I THINK THERE MAYBE SOME LEGISLATION SOMEWHERE OVER THIS ? THANKS TO ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ?