Jobseekers in Australia are reporting of bullying and safety concerns about job agency providers, reports the Guardian, with data from the Australian Unemployment Workers Union.

The Australian federal government has contracted private companies to deliver welfare services and provide job agency services. The union’s report shows examples of dissatisfaction with the welfare services provided by private agencies on behalf of the federal government. The union surveyed a number of unemployed callers.

Of the unemployed callers who contacted the advocacy hotline seeking advice about unemployment services, 52% raised concerns about job agency bullying, while 30% raised safety concerns about work for the dole programs.

According to the report: “The data exposes not only the unscrupulous and punitive practises of job agencies, but also the failure of the Department of Employment to effectively regulate the industry and ensure that job agencies follow the relevant government deeds and guidelines. Alarmingly, there were little to no consequences for job agencies that failed to uphold the government’s rules.”