News

European Union employment ministers have recently agreed revisions to the proposed Temporary Worker’s Directive that have been considered by the European Union since 2003.  So what will this mean for Britain’s estimated 1.3 million agency workers?

 

1. Agency workers will be entitled to equal treatment as their permanent colleagues once they have worked for the 12 week qualifying period.  The original wording of the Directive provided for equality to apply from day one, but the UK government has requested the requirement of a qualifying period.
   
   
2. Businesses will be required to provide their agency workers with information about any permanent employment opportunities.
   
   
3. Agency workers will be entitled to equal access to facilitate such as canteen, transport services etc.
   
   
4. UK legislation implementing the Directive is not expected before April 2010 at the earliest.

 
The decrease in flexibility for businesses in hiring temporary workers may mean in practice that there are fewer positions available.  The CBI has estimated that up to 250,000 temporary positions may be lost as a result of this proposed new legislation.