The Government set
out its plans today to give Britain’s 1.3million agency workers a
fairer deal in the workplace.
As agreed last year by the TUC and CBI, the changes will give
agency workers the right to the same pay, holidays and basic
conditions as permanent staff after 12 weeks on a given job.
Publishing a consultation on draft regulations to implement the
EU Agency Workers Directive, Business Minister Pat McFadden said:
“Last year the Government secured a deal in Europe on the Agency
Workers Directive that allows us to base Britain's rules
on the agreement reached in the UK between the CBI and TUC.
“This allows us to implement the Directive in this country in a
way which gives fair treatment to agency workers and maintains
labour market flexibility. It was only possible because the
Government is engaged in the mainstream of Europe – actively
influencing proposals coming from Europe which affect the UK
economy and UK workers. Careful and sometimes difficult
negotiations were required to get the CBI-TUC agreement reflected
in the final EU Directive.
“As the Prime Minister has said, the Government is committed to
getting this legislation on the Statute Book by the end of this
Parliament. The law will come into force in the UK in October
2011, giving recruiters and their clients time to prepare and
plan. We are also mindful of the need to avoid changing
requirements on business until the economic recovery is more
firmly established.”
The consultation on draft regulation launched today sets out
detailed proposals for implementation in the UK of the EU’s Agency
Workers Directive and will run until 11 December 2009. It follows
a wide ranging policy consultation that took place earlier in the
year.
For the first time agency workers will be entitled to equal
treatment on basic working and employment conditions, including
pay and holidays, as if they had been recruited directly by the
hirer after 12 weeks in a given job.
Other benefits that agency workers will gain from the first day
of their assignment include:
· information about vacancies in the hirer to give them the same
opportunity as other workers to find permanent employment
· equal access to on-site facilities such as child care and
transport services
· improved rights to protect the health and safety of new and
expectant mothers including right to reasonable time off to attend
ante-natal appointments and adjustments to working conditions and
working hours
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the
conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise
and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to
succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities
and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Joe Upton
Phone: 020 7215 5959
Joe.Upton@bis.gsi.gov.uk