Deal Agreed With Unions Of Agency Workers

The government has agreed a deal between unions and employers that will see agency workers in the UK receive equal treatment after 12 weeks employment.

Announcing the agreement, John Hutton, Business Secretary, said: "This is the right deal for Britain. Today's agreement achieves our twin objectives of flexibility for British employers and fairness for workers. It will give people a fair deal at work without putting their jobs at risk or cutting off a valuable route into employment."

The CBI, TUC and the Government and have reached agreement on how fairer treatment for agency workers in the UK should be promoted, while not removing the important flexibility that agency work can offer both employers and workers. Agreement has been reached on a derogation period of 12 weeks when agency workers will be entitled to equal treatment, at least the basic employment conditions of permanent staff in the same role.

The Government will now engage with its European partners to seek agreement on the terms of the Agency Workers Directive that will enable this agreement to be brought into legal effect in the United Kingdom. The Government hopes that EU agreement will be obtained in time for the necessary UK implementing legislation to be introduced in the next parliamentary session.

Commenting on the agreement John Cridland, CBI Deputy Director-General, said the proposals represent the least worst outcome available for British business.
He added: "Half of agency assignments will be unaffected as they last less than 12 weeks - protecting businesses' ability to deal with peaks and troughs in demand and shorter-term staff absences. And while pay is covered, occupational benefits that recognise the long-term relationship permanent staff have with an employer, like sick pay and pensions, are rightly excluded".