Aldi apologises over PPS numbers

German discount supermarket Aldi has apologised for wrongfully seeking PPS numbers from job seekers.

The potential breach of social welfare legislation came to light last December after being raised by Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan.

Documents obtained under freedom of information show Aldi immediately acknowledged it had wrongfully asked job applicants for their PPS number when contacted by the Department of Social Protection on December 4.

A senior official said it had been brought to her attention that Aldi was requesting the PPS number on the online work application facility on the company’s website.

Aldi was told employers could only seek a PPS number when a person was starting employment and then only for the purpose of transacting with Revenue.

“There is no legal basis for a prospective employer to capture a candidate’s PPS number at the application stage,” said the civil servant.

On December 10, Aldi managing director Niall O’Connor said the request for PPS numbers had been “an oversight”. “Aldi did not intend in any circumstances to breach the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005,” said Mr O’Connor. He reassured unsuccessful applicants that there had been no publication or use by Aldi of their PPS numbers “in any manner whatsoever”, adding that Aldi had corrected its online application form on being contacted by the Department of Social Protection.

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