Continuing job losses spell bad news for the entire restaurant industry, as consumers become more reluctant to spend, but some analysts say fast-food chains may be in for an extra helping of pain.
More so than sit-down eateries, fast-food restaurants cater to customers steeped in routine, whether they're picking up an Egg McMuffin at McDonald's Corp. (MCD) for breakfast on the way to work or downing a Burger King Holdings Corp. (BKC) Whopper sandwich during a lunch break. As those customers lose jobs, routines are shucked as those once reliable diners stay at home.
"There's a lot of folks that had a pattern of driving to the office, factory or plant who aren't doing that anymore," said Morgan Keegan & Co. analyst Robert Derrington.
Job losses are slowing, with Wednesday's Automatic Data Processing and Macroeconomic Advisers reporting the private sector shed 532,000 jobs in May, fewer than economists had expected. That's still over half-a-million people no longer making their commutes, creating a dreary employment picture and one factor restraining shares of fast-food chains this year.
Burger King and Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. (WEN) are two of the worst- performing chains among restaurant companies so far this year, with shares down 29.6% and 18%, respectively. Both companies are struggling as they lose market share to category leader McDonald's, whose shares have lost a modest 2.2% so far this year.
The fast-food chains' share-price performance comes as their casual-dining counterparts are rallying, many off multi-year lows.
Operators of full-service restaurants, which include Brinker International Inc. (EAT) and DineEquity Inc. (DIN), felt the sting of job losses first, as consumers pared back higher-priced meals. Now that sales and traffic in their dining category have stabilized, fast-food is beginning to suffer, seeing its first quarterly traffic decline since 2003.
Fast-food operators are responding with value, with Burger King most recently starting to promote value items more heavily several months earlier than anticipated.
"In their defense, they have more robust value and dollar menus, which could protect them in this environment," Telsey Advisory Group restaurant analyst Tom Forte said
Bernanke warns of 'sizeable job losses' in coming months
US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S Bernanke today warned that there could be more job losses in the next few months.
The Fed Chief also said that tight credit conditions continue to restrain economic activity even as he expressed hope of the economy to turn up later in the year.
Reflecting the gloom in the labour market, Bernanke pointed out that recent data shows that "sizeable job losses and further increases in unemployment are likely over the next few months".
The statement came on the day when the ADP National Employment Report revealed that 5,32,000 jobs were slashed by private American companies in May, much more than widely expected.
The US economy has seen nearly 6 million job losses since the beginning of 2008.
"...Financial markets and financial institutions remain under stress, and low asset prices and tight credit conditions continue to restrain economic activity," the Fed Chief said in a testimony before the US House of Representatives.
However, he noted that the government anticipate overall economic activity to bottom out, and then to turn up later this year.
The Fed Chief also said that tight credit conditions continue to restrain economic activity even as he expressed hope of the economy to turn up later in the year.
Reflecting the gloom in the labour market, Bernanke pointed out that recent data shows that "sizeable job losses and further increases in unemployment are likely over the next few months".
The statement came on the day when the ADP National Employment Report revealed that 5,32,000 jobs were slashed by private American companies in May, much more than widely expected.
The US economy has seen nearly 6 million job losses since the beginning of 2008.
"...Financial markets and financial institutions remain under stress, and low asset prices and tight credit conditions continue to restrain economic activity," the Fed Chief said in a testimony before the US House of Representatives.
However, he noted that the government anticipate overall economic activity to bottom out, and then to turn up later this year.
Stocks fall on Wall Street as US job losses continue to mount
Economically sensitive sectors have led stocks on Wall Street into their first decline in five days as mixed signals on jobs and service-sector activity weighed on investor sentiment and extended a worldwide slump in shares.
US employers cut more jobs than forecast and the S&P 500 Index traded at the most expensive in eight months.
Aetna, the third-largest US health insurer, dropped 5.3% on a reduced 2009 earnings outlook. Valero Energy tumbled 17% after forecasting a second-quarter loss and saying it will sell shares.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which rose in the previous four sessions, is down 101.39 points, or 1.2 %, at 8639.48, slipping below its year's high. The S&P 500 is off 1.7% at 928.57, hurt by declines in every sector. The weakest were energy, down 4.1%; basic materials down 4.2%; and industrials, off 2.3%.
Also weighing on energy companies, oil futures slipped $US2.91 to $US65.64 a barrel after data showing a rise in US stockpiles of crude. Oil's declined helped to push the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index down 2%.
Canadian stocks fell for a second day, led by energy and material producers, as a commodity rally that had pushed the main equity index to its best month since 1999 stalled.
Suncor Energy and EnCana fell more than 4%. Goldcorp, the world’s second-largest bullion producer, declined 3.9%.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index is down 239.22, or 2.3%, to 10,349.57.
European stocks slid the most in three weeks as investors speculated a three-month rally has outpaced expectations for earnings and economic growth.
Gross domestic product in Europe contracted 2.5% from the fourth quarter, matching an initial estimate and the most since the data were first compiled in 1995, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said today.
European household consumption shrank 0.5%, while exports slid 8.1% and imports declined 7.2%, all the most since the series started in 1995. Investment spending fell 4.2%, after a 4.3% contraction in the previous quarter that was also the sharpest since 1995.
Bouygues posted the biggest drop in six months after the French builder and mobile-phone operator said net income sank 29%.
The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index slipped 2% to 209.94, the steepest decline since May 13.
National benchmark indexes fell in all of the 18 western European markets except Ireland. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 lost 2.1% and
UK stocks declined the most in almost two weeks, led by mining and oil companies as base metals and crude prices declined.
Vedanta Resources, Xstrata and Anglo American tumbled more than 6% as copper retreated from a seven- month high. BG Group lost 2.9% amid concern Brazil may limit exploration of promising oil discoveries. Barclays dropped 5%, extending Tuesday’s sell off after Abu Dhabi investors sold part of their stake.
The FTSE 100 Index lost 2.1% to 4,383.42, the most since May 21..
Germany’s DAX Index fell 1.7% to 5054.53, trimming its rebound from this year’s lows to 38%.
Salzgitter slumped 5.7% after UBS cut its recommendation for Germany’s second-largest steelmaker. BMW and Daimler, the world’s biggest luxury-car makers, retreated on lower US car sales in May.
France’s CAC 40 Index lost 2%, to 3309.65, the biggest loss in almost two weeks.
Commodities: Oil, gold down
Crude oil fell the most in six weeks after a government report showed US supplies unexpectedly increased as fuel consumption plunged to a 10-year low.
Inventories climbed 2.9 million barrels to 366 million in the week ended May 29.
Crude oil for July delivery fell $US2.95, or 4.3%, to $US65.60 a barrel in New York. Futures dropped as much as $US3.60, or 5.3%, the biggest drop since April 20.
Gold fell the most in almost two months as a rebounding dollar curbed demand for the metal as an alternative investment. Silver also declined.
Gold futures for August delivery lost $US18.30, or 1.9%, to $US966.10 an ounce in New York, the steepest drop since April 6.
Currencies: Dollar up, pound down
The US dollar rose against the euro for the first time in five days on speculation an economic recovery will be too weak to sustain gains in higher-yielding assets such as stocks, encouraging demand for safety.
The greenback climbed against almost all of the most-traded currencies and the euro weakened as the contraction in the 16- nation economy deepened in the first quarter.
The pound dropped the most against the dollar in six weeks on bets a three-month rally in European stocks outpaced expectations for earnings and economic growth.
The dollar climbed 1.2% to $US1.4132 per euro and traded at ¥95.69. The euro fell 1.1% to ¥135.43.
The pound depreciated as much as 1.8% to $US1.6283, the biggest intraday drop since April 22.
The Canadian dollar tumbled from near the strongest level in eight months as oil fell for a second day as the US dollar rose.
US employers cut more jobs than forecast and the S&P 500 Index traded at the most expensive in eight months.
Aetna, the third-largest US health insurer, dropped 5.3% on a reduced 2009 earnings outlook. Valero Energy tumbled 17% after forecasting a second-quarter loss and saying it will sell shares.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which rose in the previous four sessions, is down 101.39 points, or 1.2 %, at 8639.48, slipping below its year's high. The S&P 500 is off 1.7% at 928.57, hurt by declines in every sector. The weakest were energy, down 4.1%; basic materials down 4.2%; and industrials, off 2.3%.
Also weighing on energy companies, oil futures slipped $US2.91 to $US65.64 a barrel after data showing a rise in US stockpiles of crude. Oil's declined helped to push the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Index down 2%.
Canadian stocks fell for a second day, led by energy and material producers, as a commodity rally that had pushed the main equity index to its best month since 1999 stalled.
Suncor Energy and EnCana fell more than 4%. Goldcorp, the world’s second-largest bullion producer, declined 3.9%.
The S&P/TSX Composite Index is down 239.22, or 2.3%, to 10,349.57.
European stocks slid the most in three weeks as investors speculated a three-month rally has outpaced expectations for earnings and economic growth.
Gross domestic product in Europe contracted 2.5% from the fourth quarter, matching an initial estimate and the most since the data were first compiled in 1995, the European Union’s statistics office in Luxembourg said today.
European household consumption shrank 0.5%, while exports slid 8.1% and imports declined 7.2%, all the most since the series started in 1995. Investment spending fell 4.2%, after a 4.3% contraction in the previous quarter that was also the sharpest since 1995.
Bouygues posted the biggest drop in six months after the French builder and mobile-phone operator said net income sank 29%.
The Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index slipped 2% to 209.94, the steepest decline since May 13.
National benchmark indexes fell in all of the 18 western European markets except Ireland. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 lost 2.1% and
UK stocks declined the most in almost two weeks, led by mining and oil companies as base metals and crude prices declined.
Vedanta Resources, Xstrata and Anglo American tumbled more than 6% as copper retreated from a seven- month high. BG Group lost 2.9% amid concern Brazil may limit exploration of promising oil discoveries. Barclays dropped 5%, extending Tuesday’s sell off after Abu Dhabi investors sold part of their stake.
The FTSE 100 Index lost 2.1% to 4,383.42, the most since May 21..
Germany’s DAX Index fell 1.7% to 5054.53, trimming its rebound from this year’s lows to 38%.
Salzgitter slumped 5.7% after UBS cut its recommendation for Germany’s second-largest steelmaker. BMW and Daimler, the world’s biggest luxury-car makers, retreated on lower US car sales in May.
France’s CAC 40 Index lost 2%, to 3309.65, the biggest loss in almost two weeks.
Commodities: Oil, gold down
Crude oil fell the most in six weeks after a government report showed US supplies unexpectedly increased as fuel consumption plunged to a 10-year low.
Inventories climbed 2.9 million barrels to 366 million in the week ended May 29.
Crude oil for July delivery fell $US2.95, or 4.3%, to $US65.60 a barrel in New York. Futures dropped as much as $US3.60, or 5.3%, the biggest drop since April 20.
Gold fell the most in almost two months as a rebounding dollar curbed demand for the metal as an alternative investment. Silver also declined.
Gold futures for August delivery lost $US18.30, or 1.9%, to $US966.10 an ounce in New York, the steepest drop since April 6.
Currencies: Dollar up, pound down
The US dollar rose against the euro for the first time in five days on speculation an economic recovery will be too weak to sustain gains in higher-yielding assets such as stocks, encouraging demand for safety.
The greenback climbed against almost all of the most-traded currencies and the euro weakened as the contraction in the 16- nation economy deepened in the first quarter.
The pound dropped the most against the dollar in six weeks on bets a three-month rally in European stocks outpaced expectations for earnings and economic growth.
The dollar climbed 1.2% to $US1.4132 per euro and traded at ¥95.69. The euro fell 1.1% to ¥135.43.
The pound depreciated as much as 1.8% to $US1.6283, the biggest intraday drop since April 22.
The Canadian dollar tumbled from near the strongest level in eight months as oil fell for a second day as the US dollar rose.
Alan Johnson says Brown right man for job
The minister tipped as a possible successor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday that Brown was the best man for the job, despite a wave of government resignations that have shaken his government.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson, a former postman and union leader, praised Brown's "courage" and "tenacity" in the face of tough questioning by opposition politicians in parliament earlier on Wednesday.
"He is doing the job, he is doing it under difficult circumstances," Johnson said. "There is absolutely no one that could do that job better."
Asked by a TV reporter if he could do a better job as prime minister than Brown, Johnson replied "No" before walking off.
The resignation of two Cabinet ministers has reignited speculation over Brown's future as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party, trailing by up to 20 points before a parliamentary election due within a year.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears announced their decision to quit before local and European elections on Thursday.
Both were caught up in a scandal over MPs' expenses claims for things like plasma screen televisions, bathplugs and home loan repayments.
Voters have reacted with fury to weeks of disclosures about the use of taxpayers' money. All three main political parties have lost public support in the opinion polls.
Johnson was narrowly beaten for the post of Labour Party deputy leader by Harriet Harman in a vote in June 2007.A former supermarket shelf-stacker, Johnson is seen as an affable, down-to-earth figure who could help Labour reconnect with its traditional working class supporters.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson, a former postman and union leader, praised Brown's "courage" and "tenacity" in the face of tough questioning by opposition politicians in parliament earlier on Wednesday.
"He is doing the job, he is doing it under difficult circumstances," Johnson said. "There is absolutely no one that could do that job better."
Asked by a TV reporter if he could do a better job as prime minister than Brown, Johnson replied "No" before walking off.
The resignation of two Cabinet ministers has reignited speculation over Brown's future as prime minister and leader of the Labour Party, trailing by up to 20 points before a parliamentary election due within a year.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Communities Secretary Hazel Blears announced their decision to quit before local and European elections on Thursday.
Both were caught up in a scandal over MPs' expenses claims for things like plasma screen televisions, bathplugs and home loan repayments.
Voters have reacted with fury to weeks of disclosures about the use of taxpayers' money. All three main political parties have lost public support in the opinion polls.
Johnson was narrowly beaten for the post of Labour Party deputy leader by Harriet Harman in a vote in June 2007.A former supermarket shelf-stacker, Johnson is seen as an affable, down-to-earth figure who could help Labour reconnect with its traditional working class supporters.
Job Opportunities with NCR
You might have heard the news about Fortune 500 company NCR’s upcoming move to Georgia. If you’re looking for a job, there may be an opportunity for you, as long as you don’t mind moving to Duluth or Columbus.
The State Department of Labor has issued a statement explaining how applicants can be considered for the opportunities.
While the company will be moving its global headquarters to the Atlanta suburb of Duluth, many of its top employees are expected to make the move with the company from Dayton, Ohio. The majority of the jobs being created will be in its new production facility in Columbus.
The ATM manufacturing facility is expected to create 870 professional and production jobs, and the DOL has begun the recruitment process by accepting applicants for the first 26 positions online. A job fair for 53 production jobs, including material handlers and assemblers, will be held on June 13 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbus Career Center.
State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said the news of the move is a big boost for the state.
“NCR’s decision to expand its operations in Georgia is great news for our state’s job seekers,” said Thurmond. “The Georgia Department of Labor is working to ensure that every interested Georgian has an opportunity to apply for a job with this company. We are working closely with the company, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Quickstart, Columbus Technical College, and our other workforce partners to help make this a successful venture for all.”
The professional positions include:
Job Order Position
7776779 SLM Manager
7776788 Manufacturing Engineering Manager
7776790 IT Operations Manager
7776797 Logistics Materials Manager
7776805 Manufacturing Manager
7776819 Buyer Supervisor
7776827 Finance Manager
7776837 Manufacturing Quality Manager
7776845 Supplier Engineer (II)
To complete a referral form, go online to www.ncr.com, or go directly to http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/job_info_system.htm and at the bottom of the page type in the job order number for the position of interest. The department will refer all applicants who meet NCR’s qualifications to the company, which will decide which applicants to interview and contact them to schedule an appointment. Applicants without Internet access can complete a referral form at any of the labor department’s 53 career centers throughout the state.
The State Department of Labor has issued a statement explaining how applicants can be considered for the opportunities.
While the company will be moving its global headquarters to the Atlanta suburb of Duluth, many of its top employees are expected to make the move with the company from Dayton, Ohio. The majority of the jobs being created will be in its new production facility in Columbus.
The ATM manufacturing facility is expected to create 870 professional and production jobs, and the DOL has begun the recruitment process by accepting applicants for the first 26 positions online. A job fair for 53 production jobs, including material handlers and assemblers, will be held on June 13 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbus Career Center.
State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said the news of the move is a big boost for the state.
“NCR’s decision to expand its operations in Georgia is great news for our state’s job seekers,” said Thurmond. “The Georgia Department of Labor is working to ensure that every interested Georgian has an opportunity to apply for a job with this company. We are working closely with the company, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Quickstart, Columbus Technical College, and our other workforce partners to help make this a successful venture for all.”
The professional positions include:
Job Order Position
7776779 SLM Manager
7776788 Manufacturing Engineering Manager
7776790 IT Operations Manager
7776797 Logistics Materials Manager
7776805 Manufacturing Manager
7776819 Buyer Supervisor
7776827 Finance Manager
7776837 Manufacturing Quality Manager
7776845 Supplier Engineer (II)
To complete a referral form, go online to www.ncr.com, or go directly to http://www.dol.state.ga.us/js/job_info_system.htm and at the bottom of the page type in the job order number for the position of interest. The department will refer all applicants who meet NCR’s qualifications to the company, which will decide which applicants to interview and contact them to schedule an appointment. Applicants without Internet access can complete a referral form at any of the labor department’s 53 career centers throughout the state.
Labour chief warns of eight-year global 'jobs crisis'
A global "jobs crisis" caused by the economic downturn could last for up to eight years, International Labour Organisation chief Juan Somavia said Wednesday.
Somavia said at the opening of the UN labour agency's annual conference that about 300 million new jobs would be needed up to 2015 just to keep up with the natural growth in the global labour force.
"There are early and welcome signs that the downturn may be losing speed," the ILO Director General said.
But economic conditions were still fragile and most analysts were predicting a slow recovery, he added.
"All of this put together means that the world may be looking at a jobs and social protection crisis of six to eight years duration," Somavia told the conference of government, labour and employers representatives.
"Not enough attention has been paid by political leaders to the human and social implications of this lag."
Somavia has been urging world leaders to specifically target job creation alongside other measures they have taken to stimulate the economy and credit markets.
The ILO chief was promoting his Global Jobs Pact, a loose collection of voluntary job creation or support measures and minimum labour protection that countries could adopt piecemeal according to their circumstances.
The 16-day conference is due to hold a keynote "Jobs Summit" starting June 15 with Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner, her Brazilian counterpart Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Poland's Lech Kaczynski.
Somavia said at the opening of the UN labour agency's annual conference that about 300 million new jobs would be needed up to 2015 just to keep up with the natural growth in the global labour force.
"There are early and welcome signs that the downturn may be losing speed," the ILO Director General said.
But economic conditions were still fragile and most analysts were predicting a slow recovery, he added.
"All of this put together means that the world may be looking at a jobs and social protection crisis of six to eight years duration," Somavia told the conference of government, labour and employers representatives.
"Not enough attention has been paid by political leaders to the human and social implications of this lag."
Somavia has been urging world leaders to specifically target job creation alongside other measures they have taken to stimulate the economy and credit markets.
The ILO chief was promoting his Global Jobs Pact, a loose collection of voluntary job creation or support measures and minimum labour protection that countries could adopt piecemeal according to their circumstances.
The 16-day conference is due to hold a keynote "Jobs Summit" starting June 15 with Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner, her Brazilian counterpart Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Poland's Lech Kaczynski.
Lloyds Banking Cuts Another 510 Jobs
Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LYG) said Wednesday it is cutting around 510 permanent roles across the retail business in the U.K.
The bank attributed the job cuts to the Chatham retail customer service's closure by the end of the year, as well as other jobs cut in regulated sales, mortgages and network support. In total, 530 people in full- or part-time positions will be affected by the cuts.
Lloyds said it prefers to use "natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible."
If people have to leave the company, Lloyds said it hopes to achieve this by voluntary severance and making less use of contractors. "Compulsory redundancies will be a last resort."
"These latest job losses are yet another example of the weekly hammering that the workforce of the bank is having to endure," national officer for the labor union Unite, Rob MacGregor, said in a statement.
"We have already seen over 2,400 job losses announced by the bank since its formation in January. Unite has made it plain that the union won't accept a situation where the LBG makes weekly announcements of hundreds of job losses," MacGregor added.
Lloyds acquired troubled mortgage lender HBOS in January this year, creating a bank with the U.K.'s largest market share in among others current accounts and mortgage lending.
The combined bank has about 140,000 employees, split about 50-50 between the two banks.
Company Web site: www.lloydsbankinggroup.com
The bank attributed the job cuts to the Chatham retail customer service's closure by the end of the year, as well as other jobs cut in regulated sales, mortgages and network support. In total, 530 people in full- or part-time positions will be affected by the cuts.
Lloyds said it prefers to use "natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible."
If people have to leave the company, Lloyds said it hopes to achieve this by voluntary severance and making less use of contractors. "Compulsory redundancies will be a last resort."
"These latest job losses are yet another example of the weekly hammering that the workforce of the bank is having to endure," national officer for the labor union Unite, Rob MacGregor, said in a statement.
"We have already seen over 2,400 job losses announced by the bank since its formation in January. Unite has made it plain that the union won't accept a situation where the LBG makes weekly announcements of hundreds of job losses," MacGregor added.
Lloyds acquired troubled mortgage lender HBOS in January this year, creating a bank with the U.K.'s largest market share in among others current accounts and mortgage lending.
The combined bank has about 140,000 employees, split about 50-50 between the two banks.
Company Web site: www.lloydsbankinggroup.com
532,000 May job cuts ADP reports
Although there have been signs that the economy is improving, employers still appear to be focused on cost-cutting.
Payroll firm ADP reported Wednesday that companies in the U.S. cut an estimated 532,000 workers from payrolls last month. ADP also revised higher its estimate of cuts in April to 545,000 from the previous estimate of 491,000.
The ADP report noted losses across all sizes and categories of businesses with large business payrolls declining 100,000, medium businesses shedding 223,000 jobs and small businesses cutting 209,000 employees. The goods-producing sector lost 267,000 jobs while the service-producing sector declined by 265,000 positions.
The Labor Department is due to release its jobs report on Friday. The average analyst estimate for that report of government as well as private payrolls is a loss of 520,000 payroll positions and an increase in the unemployment rate to 9.2 percent from April’s rate of 8.9 percent.
On Monday, The Institute for Supply Management announced that its factory index rose to the highest level since last September as new orders posted their first gain since the recession began. On Tuesday the National Association of Realtors reported that pending sales of existing homes, or contracts signed but not closed, rose 6.7 percent in April, the largest increase in six years.
Payroll firm ADP reported Wednesday that companies in the U.S. cut an estimated 532,000 workers from payrolls last month. ADP also revised higher its estimate of cuts in April to 545,000 from the previous estimate of 491,000.
The ADP report noted losses across all sizes and categories of businesses with large business payrolls declining 100,000, medium businesses shedding 223,000 jobs and small businesses cutting 209,000 employees. The goods-producing sector lost 267,000 jobs while the service-producing sector declined by 265,000 positions.
The Labor Department is due to release its jobs report on Friday. The average analyst estimate for that report of government as well as private payrolls is a loss of 520,000 payroll positions and an increase in the unemployment rate to 9.2 percent from April’s rate of 8.9 percent.
On Monday, The Institute for Supply Management announced that its factory index rose to the highest level since last September as new orders posted their first gain since the recession began. On Tuesday the National Association of Realtors reported that pending sales of existing homes, or contracts signed but not closed, rose 6.7 percent in April, the largest increase in six years.
International Cruise Services
We have recieved a number of emails from jobseekers who reported International Cruise Services (based in Glasgow, UK) as another cruise ship employment scam to us.
We approached them in February 2009 and here is their response:
...
We charge a one off fee of 35 GBP for the cruise ship career guide and also newsletters containing all the current ships, changes of addresses of companies and general information about where to obtain vacancies. Which is sent to people who register free of charge for two years. We have been in business since l989 and have been approved by the Department of Trade and Industry who have been in our offices and are perfectly happy with way we operate.
At no time do we say in any of our literature that they pay to get a job. If you look at our web site - click on International Cruise Services button you will see that we clearly explain our services.
...
After a brief investigation we came to the following conclusions:
International Cruise Services is not what we would class as employment scam. However, their website (www.cruiseservices.co.uk) is misleading since they don't make it clear that they do not recruit staff but sell information packs and email newsletters.
International Cruise Services advertise a lot of jobs on various online job boards. However, they don't recruit staff for cruise lines and therefore these positions don't exist. It is illegal in the United Kingdom to advertise non-existing jobs.
We think some jobseekers might find their services useful. Having said that, most information that International Cruise Services sell for 35 GBP (approximatelly 50 USD) can be found elsewhere on the Internet for free.
We approached them in February 2009 and here is their response:
...
We charge a one off fee of 35 GBP for the cruise ship career guide and also newsletters containing all the current ships, changes of addresses of companies and general information about where to obtain vacancies. Which is sent to people who register free of charge for two years. We have been in business since l989 and have been approved by the Department of Trade and Industry who have been in our offices and are perfectly happy with way we operate.
At no time do we say in any of our literature that they pay to get a job. If you look at our web site - click on International Cruise Services button you will see that we clearly explain our services.
...
After a brief investigation we came to the following conclusions:
International Cruise Services is not what we would class as employment scam. However, their website (www.cruiseservices.co.uk) is misleading since they don't make it clear that they do not recruit staff but sell information packs and email newsletters.
International Cruise Services advertise a lot of jobs on various online job boards. However, they don't recruit staff for cruise lines and therefore these positions don't exist. It is illegal in the United Kingdom to advertise non-existing jobs.
We think some jobseekers might find their services useful. Having said that, most information that International Cruise Services sell for 35 GBP (approximatelly 50 USD) can be found elsewhere on the Internet for free.
Cruise Ship Job Scams
Employment scams tend to have the following features:
* Jobs are advertised on free websites. Scammers don't like to pay to advertise jobs that don't exist.
* Scammers send emails from free email accounts such as Yahoo, Gmail, ZZN, Hotmail, etc.
* All correspodence from scammers is in poor English and very unprofessional (e.g. saying "God bless you" at the end, etc.)
* Be extremely careful when dealing with someone pretending to be a recruiter from Ghana or Malaysia. There are known scam schemes operating from these countries. They change thier names on weekly basis.
* Some scammers claim to have branches or headquarters in the "Western World", e.g. in the USA, Canada, or United Kingdom. However, addresses and telephone numbers they provide do not exist.
* Most cruise ship job scammers don't charge admin fees. You get a job offer for free. You just need to pay for visa, lawyer fees, etc. Don't pay, the job offer is fake, you'll lose your money.
* Remember, sending money via MoneyGram or Western Union isn't safe. Savings of too many good people ended up in fraudsters' pockets.
Getting a job on a cruise ship is a very difficult and lengthy process. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely isn't true!
Known Employment Scams
Following is a list of known fictitious companies that pretend to be legitimate agencies for employment on cruise ships:
* Aftermath Shipping GH Ltd (Ghana)
* Agora Global Holdings (Malaysia)
* Ausi Cruise Line (Malaysia)
* Australasian Cruise Line International (Malaysia)
* Avalon Cruise Services (Canada)
* Baltic Tourist Shipping Line (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Blue Sea Shipping Company (Ghana)
* Canadian Cruise Shipping (Canada and Malaysia)
* Capt. Dorris Morgan (dorrismorganfamily@googlemail.com) - pretending to be from Amble Boat Company (United Kingdom)
* Capt. David Phillip (capt.davidphil@gmail.com) - pretending to be from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
* Captains Shipping Line (Ghana)
* Cool Jobs At Sea (Oceana International) (Canada)
* Crown Cruise Liners, Crown Cruiseliners International (Malaysia)
* Cruise Canadian Line (Malaysia)
* Cruise Careers (Wyoming Canada)
* Cruise International (New Brunswick Canada)
* Cruise Services International (United Kingdom)
* Cruise Ship Centers International (San Francisco USA)
* Cruise Shipping Line (Canada)
* Crystal Cruise Line (www.crystalcrline.com) - not to be mistaken for Crystal Cruises (www.crystalcruises.com)
* Cuise Ship Service Line Canada (Canada, Malaysia)
* Cruiseship Global Canada, Cruise Ship Global Canada (Canada, Malaysia)
* CruiseQueenliner Cruise Queenliner (Malaysia)
* CTG Group London, Capt Terry Smith (United Kingdom) - not to be mistaken for CTI Group
* Dolphin Ship Management (San Marino)
* Express Cruise Tourist Shipping Lines (Canada, Malaysia)
* Express Cruises and Shipping Company, M.V.Custavia (Ghana, United Kingdom, Australia)
* Fleewing International (California USA)
* Fresh Princess Cruises UK Limited (United Kingdom)
* Frontline Consulting London (Ghana, United Kingom)
* Geoluxary Cruise Lines Int., Geoluxury Cruise Lines (Malaysia)
* Global Arrow Shipping Line (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Global Cruise Shipping Services (Canada, USA)
* Global Cruise Lines International
* Global Sea Shipping Line (Scotland, Ghana)
* Greenline Consults (Roland Botson, Mark Kyle) (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Hawks Marine Cruises International (Canada)
* Highsea Shipping Line (Scotland, Ghana)
* Infinity Cruise Lines International (Malaysia)
* Intercontinental Spirit Ship (Ghana)
* Intercontinental Cruises Company London (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* International Cruise Ship Recruiters
* International Transition Abroad - The New Era (South Africa, United Kingdom, USA)
* Ivory Arrow Shipping (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Jdak Cruises and Shipping (Ghana)
* K-shipping, Kingdom Shipping GH Ltd (Ghana)
* Malaysia Crystal Cruises (Malaysia, United Kingdom)
* Marks and Silogar Consulting (United Kingdom, Ghana)
* Maydott Cruiseline International (Malaysia)
* Midway Cruise Company
* Mutus Cruises (Malaysia)
* Natra Cruising Company (Ghana)
* New World Cruise Ship Employment Agency (Canada)
* Ocean Village Cruises (Malaysia)
* Oceana International (Canada)
* Oceania Cruise Line, Oceania Cruise Company (oceania-cruises.org, Malaysia, United Kingdom)
* Pacific International Shipping Line (United Kingdom, Ghana)
* Pan American Cruise Corporation (Berverly Hills USA)
* Pandayan Sevenseas Manpower Recruitment Services (India)
* Pentagon Cruise (Malaysia)
* Princess Mariana Company
*
* Royal Cruiseliner, Royal Cruise Liner, Royal Cruise Line Inc. (Malaysia, Canada)
* Royal Festival Cruises International
* Royal Ocean Village Cruise International (Malaysia, United Kingdom)
* Salsa Cruise (Malaysia)
* San Marino Shipping (San Marino)
* Sea Wave Cruise Liner (Malaysia)
* Sealink Shipping Company Limited (United Kingdom, Ghana)
* Seek Work Consulting (United Kingdom, Ghana)
* Shipping Planet (Malaysia)
* Skylines Cruise International (Malaysia)
* Starcruise (Malaysia)
* Starline Cruises (Malaysia)
* The New Era - International Transition Abroad (South Africa, United Kingdom, USA)
* Touchline Marine Cruises International (Canada, Malaysia)
* Transways Logistics (Malaysia)
* Velta Express Shipping Line (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Vigo Cruises (Malaysia)
* World Cruize (Malaysia, United Kingdom)
* Xprex Shipping Company Limited UK (Bristol, United Kingdom)
Read more about International Cruise Services from Glasgow, United Kingdom.
All of the above scammers charge upfront fees or fees for visas and work permits. They have been repeatedly reported to fail to find any employment for their victims.
If you come accross any of the above names, please do not send them any money.
If you know of any other cruise ship job scams, please let us know. Thank you.
* Jobs are advertised on free websites. Scammers don't like to pay to advertise jobs that don't exist.
* Scammers send emails from free email accounts such as Yahoo, Gmail, ZZN, Hotmail, etc.
* All correspodence from scammers is in poor English and very unprofessional (e.g. saying "God bless you" at the end, etc.)
* Be extremely careful when dealing with someone pretending to be a recruiter from Ghana or Malaysia. There are known scam schemes operating from these countries. They change thier names on weekly basis.
* Some scammers claim to have branches or headquarters in the "Western World", e.g. in the USA, Canada, or United Kingdom. However, addresses and telephone numbers they provide do not exist.
* Most cruise ship job scammers don't charge admin fees. You get a job offer for free. You just need to pay for visa, lawyer fees, etc. Don't pay, the job offer is fake, you'll lose your money.
* Remember, sending money via MoneyGram or Western Union isn't safe. Savings of too many good people ended up in fraudsters' pockets.
Getting a job on a cruise ship is a very difficult and lengthy process. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely isn't true!
Known Employment Scams
Following is a list of known fictitious companies that pretend to be legitimate agencies for employment on cruise ships:
* Aftermath Shipping GH Ltd (Ghana)
* Agora Global Holdings (Malaysia)
* Ausi Cruise Line (Malaysia)
* Australasian Cruise Line International (Malaysia)
* Avalon Cruise Services (Canada)
* Baltic Tourist Shipping Line (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Blue Sea Shipping Company (Ghana)
* Canadian Cruise Shipping (Canada and Malaysia)
* Capt. Dorris Morgan (dorrismorganfamily@googlemail.com) - pretending to be from Amble Boat Company (United Kingdom)
* Capt. David Phillip (capt.davidphil@gmail.com) - pretending to be from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
* Captains Shipping Line (Ghana)
* Cool Jobs At Sea (Oceana International) (Canada)
* Crown Cruise Liners, Crown Cruiseliners International (Malaysia)
* Cruise Canadian Line (Malaysia)
* Cruise Careers (Wyoming Canada)
* Cruise International (New Brunswick Canada)
* Cruise Services International (United Kingdom)
* Cruise Ship Centers International (San Francisco USA)
* Cruise Shipping Line (Canada)
* Crystal Cruise Line (www.crystalcrline.com) - not to be mistaken for Crystal Cruises (www.crystalcruises.com)
* Cuise Ship Service Line Canada (Canada, Malaysia)
* Cruiseship Global Canada, Cruise Ship Global Canada (Canada, Malaysia)
* CruiseQueenliner Cruise Queenliner (Malaysia)
* CTG Group London, Capt Terry Smith (United Kingdom) - not to be mistaken for CTI Group
* Dolphin Ship Management (San Marino)
* Express Cruise Tourist Shipping Lines (Canada, Malaysia)
* Express Cruises and Shipping Company, M.V.Custavia (Ghana, United Kingdom, Australia)
* Fleewing International (California USA)
* Fresh Princess Cruises UK Limited (United Kingdom)
* Frontline Consulting London (Ghana, United Kingom)
* Geoluxary Cruise Lines Int., Geoluxury Cruise Lines (Malaysia)
* Global Arrow Shipping Line (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Global Cruise Shipping Services (Canada, USA)
* Global Cruise Lines International
* Global Sea Shipping Line (Scotland, Ghana)
* Greenline Consults (Roland Botson, Mark Kyle) (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Hawks Marine Cruises International (Canada)
* Highsea Shipping Line (Scotland, Ghana)
* Infinity Cruise Lines International (Malaysia)
* Intercontinental Spirit Ship (Ghana)
* Intercontinental Cruises Company London (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* International Cruise Ship Recruiters
* International Transition Abroad - The New Era (South Africa, United Kingdom, USA)
* Ivory Arrow Shipping (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Jdak Cruises and Shipping (Ghana)
* K-shipping, Kingdom Shipping GH Ltd (Ghana)
* Malaysia Crystal Cruises (Malaysia, United Kingdom)
* Marks and Silogar Consulting (United Kingdom, Ghana)
* Maydott Cruiseline International (Malaysia)
* Midway Cruise Company
* Mutus Cruises (Malaysia)
* Natra Cruising Company (Ghana)
* New World Cruise Ship Employment Agency (Canada)
* Ocean Village Cruises (Malaysia)
* Oceana International (Canada)
* Oceania Cruise Line, Oceania Cruise Company (oceania-cruises.org, Malaysia, United Kingdom)
* Pacific International Shipping Line (United Kingdom, Ghana)
* Pan American Cruise Corporation (Berverly Hills USA)
* Pandayan Sevenseas Manpower Recruitment Services (India)
* Pentagon Cruise (Malaysia)
* Princess Mariana Company
*
* Royal Cruiseliner, Royal Cruise Liner, Royal Cruise Line Inc. (Malaysia, Canada)
* Royal Festival Cruises International
* Royal Ocean Village Cruise International (Malaysia, United Kingdom)
* Salsa Cruise (Malaysia)
* San Marino Shipping (San Marino)
* Sea Wave Cruise Liner (Malaysia)
* Sealink Shipping Company Limited (United Kingdom, Ghana)
* Seek Work Consulting (United Kingdom, Ghana)
* Shipping Planet (Malaysia)
* Skylines Cruise International (Malaysia)
* Starcruise (Malaysia)
* Starline Cruises (Malaysia)
* The New Era - International Transition Abroad (South Africa, United Kingdom, USA)
* Touchline Marine Cruises International (Canada, Malaysia)
* Transways Logistics (Malaysia)
* Velta Express Shipping Line (Ghana, United Kingdom)
* Vigo Cruises (Malaysia)
* World Cruize (Malaysia, United Kingdom)
* Xprex Shipping Company Limited UK (Bristol, United Kingdom)
Read more about International Cruise Services from Glasgow, United Kingdom.
All of the above scammers charge upfront fees or fees for visas and work permits. They have been repeatedly reported to fail to find any employment for their victims.
If you come accross any of the above names, please do not send them any money.
If you know of any other cruise ship job scams, please let us know. Thank you.
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