Brown Wants "Fair Treatment" For Agency Workers In Draft Queens Speech

Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced that new rules would be introduced to give agency workers "fair treatment" in his draft Queen's Speech this morning.

Brown said: "We are committed to both flexibility and to fairness in the workplace and we will do nothing that jeopardises jobs and businesses taking on workers. But most people agree that it is not fair that, even after months in the job, agency workers can currently be paid less than the staff they work alongside --- and as a result permanent staff can feel they are being unfairly undercut. So My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business plans to bring forward legislation - subject to an agreement between employers and employees, and in Europe - that will for the first time ensure new rules for fair treatment of agency workers here in Britain."

It is the first time the government has publicly given its views on domestic legislation to protect agency workers, after abstaining during the votes on Andrew Miller's Private Member's Bill to offer temporary agency workers the same pay and conditions as permanent staff.

Tom Hadley, The Recruitment and Employment Confederation's director of external relations, said that the statement suggests there will be a swift move in the next Parliament to implement the European draft agency workers directive (AWD).

"The REC has consistently held the view that the EU Directive holds more chance of a workable outcome than the Private Member's Bill on agency work that is current being debated in the House of Commons. The REC will be working with government, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and other stakeholders to ensure that this is the case,"said Hadley.

In addition, the government is pushing forward with its planned Agency Work Commission. The commission would be made up of representatives from the Confederation of British Industry and the Trade Union Congress. The TUC has yet to confirm that they will sit on the commission, but it is thought that this is becoming more likely.

The draft Queen's speech legislative programme for the next parliamentary session in November covers 18 bills. They are:

1. Banking reform bill. To protect the public from a future Northern Rock bank failure and encourage greater banking stability by setting up a rescue fund.

2. Savings gateway bill. Sets up a special new savings scheme from 2010 for the eight million lower paid where the government will add to people's savings.

3. Business rates supplements bill. Gives big metropolitan and county councils the right to levy up to 2p extra business rates for long-term infrastructure projects such as Crossrail and tram systems.

4. Marine and coastal access bill. Creates a national coastal footpath round England and a national marine planning strategy.

5. Heritage protection bill. Reforms the listing system for historic buildings and ancient monuments. Outlaws illegal trade in artefacts.

6. Education and skills bill. Transfers funding back to local councils for 16-18 further education and training and sets up a new national apprenticeship scheme.

7. Equality bill. Sets new national standards for equality legislation and legislates for political parties to use all-women shortlists until 2030.

8. Welfare reform bill. Aims to reduce welfare dependency by strengthening law to force absent parents to contribute to their children and simplifying benefit system.

9. Policing and crime reduction bill. Focuses police on community, reduces bureaucracy, streamlines seizure of criminals' assets and extradition arrangements.

10. Transport security bill. Strengthens airport security, charges airports for policing and introduces new anti-terrorism laws for shipping.

11. Communications data bill. Strengthens powers to monitor people's use of the internet and seizes data to combat terrorism and crime.

12. Law reform, victims and witnesses bill. Aims to provide better protection for victims of crime and tougher powers for information commissioner in policing breaches of privacy and reform homicide law.

13. Citizenship, immigration and borders bill. Reform immigration law and creates new laws for people to earn their right of British citizenship.

14. Coroners and death certification bill. Creates national coroners' service with new investigative powers and reforms laws to strengthen rights of the bereaved.

15. NHS reform bill. Creates an NHS constitution and reforms role of primary care trusts, giving patients more power over their NHS care.

16. Constitutional renewal bill. Places civil service on statutory footing, gives MPs final say on treaties, partially reforms role of attorney general, removes restrictions on protests outside parliament.

17. Community empowerment, housing and economic regeneration bill. Gives more power to local citizens over delivery of local services, streamlines regional bodies and gives councils greater say in economic development.

18. Geneva conventions and UN personnel bill. Extends protection of people working on humanitarian, political and economic assistance. Introduces adoption of new humanitarian emblem.