The Fair Work Agency
What Actors Need to Know About Reporting Agents and Agencies
For years, The 98% has directed actors to the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EASI) when they’ve experienced legal issues with agents - from withheld payments to unlawful fees.
That hasn’t disappeared. But it has changed.
The Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate now forms part of a new, centralised regulator: the Fair Work Agency.
The Fair Work Agency is a UK government body created to bring together multiple enforcement systems into one place - including employment agency regulation, minimum wage enforcement, and wider labour protections.
That means when we talk about reporting rogue agents or unfair practices, this is now the body responsible.
Why this matters for actors
The acting industry is often described as “unregulated” - and in many ways, it is.
There is:
No central licensing system for agents
No requirement for formal qualifications
No consistent oversight across the industry
This creates an environment where:
Anyone can call themselves an “agent”
Anyone can begin operating as one
Standards vary wildly
Actors are often left to figure things out alone
But here’s the part many people don’t realise:
Talent agencies are regulated in law.
The legislation that governs agents
In the UK, employment agencies - including talent agents - fall under:
The Employment Agencies Act 1973 &
The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003
These laws set out legal requirements around:
Fees and commissions
Payment handling
Contracts and terms of engagement
Transparency of services
Professional conduct
This is not optional. These are enforceable legal standards.
And yet, because the industry itself lacks visible regulation, many actors don’t realise these protections exist - or that breaches can be reported.
What counts as an agency breach?
If you’ve worked with an agent and something felt “off,” been treated unfairly or wrongly, or been taken advantage of financially, there’s a good chance it falls into one of these areas.
You can report agencies for things like:
Charging unlawful fees
Taking upfront payments improperly
Requiring payment for services (e.g. classes, headshots) as a condition of representation
Failing to pay actors within the required timeframe
Withholding money owed
Misleading or unclear contracts
Not providing adequate information about representation or services
Poor transparency around how they operate
These are not just “bad practices” - many of them are potential breaches of legislation.
Why reporting matters
One of the biggest issues in this industry is not just that problems occur - it’s that they often go unreported.
That leads to:
Patterns of behaviour going unnoticed
Rogue agents continuing to operate
New actors being exposed to the same issues
A culture of “open secrets” with no formal accountability
The system relies on reports to function.
Without them, there is no visibility.
Without visibility, there is no enforcement.
Where the gap still exists
It’s important to understand what reporting can and can’t do.
If, for example, an agency withholds your pay, the Fair Work Agency can step in to investigate and help recover what you’re owed.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean other clients of that agency will be warned.
There is no automatic system that flags or publicly communicates these patterns to protect others in real time (something The 98% is working to change!)
So while reporting is essential for enforcement, it doesn’t always prevent the same behaviour happening to someone else.
This is where community awareness matters.
Sharing experiences, speaking up, and not being afraid to raise concerns publicly (where it is safe to do so) is also part of how actors protect each other in an industry that often relies on silence.
What about unions or industry bodies?
Unions and industry organisations cannot, and do not, regulate agents.
They cannot enforce the law in this area.
The Fair Work Agency is the statutory enforcement body - meaning it is one of the only routes through which legal breaches can actually be investigated and acted upon. Reporting to unions and other industry bodies is important for awareness and accountability. But the Fair Work Agency should always been included in reports in hopes of enforcement of the law.
If you’ve experienced issues with an agent
You are not expected to “just deal with it.”
If you have:
Had money mishandled
Been charged fees that didn’t feel right
Been required to pay for services as a condition of representation
Experienced withheld pay
Been given unclear or misleading terms
You can report it.
Even a single report contributes to a wider picture.
And you never know how many others may have experienced the same thing.
How to report
You can make a complaint via the UK government’s official reporting system:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints
Further support
If you’re unsure about your rights, your contract, or whether something is appropriate - there are resources available.
This website contains guidance on:
Your rights as an actor
Your rights as a client of an agent
What is and isn’t standard industry practice
And if you’re unsure, you can reach out with questions.
Final note
The acting industry often operates on word-of-mouth, informal structures, and assumed norms.
But behind that, there is legislation.
There are rights.
And there is a system for accountability - even if it’s not widely understood.
In an industry where regulation is limited, knowing your rights - and sharing knowledge with others - is one of the strongest forms of protection we have.
Written by Alexa Morden.
Want to see and share this information on Instagram? See the post here.