The letter from Avon to the Minister for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, comes as the company launched a recruitment drive to entice university leavers to become Avon sales representatives.
Anna Segatti, head of Avon's UK enterprise and author of the letter, said there was a huge opportunity to promote direct selling to graduates and indeed other people during the economic downturn.
Graduate sales reps would not be direct employees of Avon Cosmetics, but rather self-employed working the hours of their choice.
Applicants are charged an administration fee of £15 and six weeks’ worth of free sales material. After this, reps must buy catalogues themselves.
The move to hire jobless graduates belies the traditional image of Avon ‘ladies’ as being middle-aged housewives looking to earn a little extra spending money.
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