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Agency workers to get equal rights but after 12 weeks
Page 8
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By Chris Tindatt A PRIVATE MEMBER'S bill that would have deterred haulage companies from taking on agency drivers has been dropped after an agreement was reached between unions and the government.
The bill, introduced by Labour MP Andrew Miller, called for temporary workers to receive the same pay and benefits as their permanent counterparts ('Agency workers bill would mean more red tape', CM 28 February). However, an agreement reached with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the TUC means this will only kick in after 12 weeks.
Attention now turns to Brussels, where this arrangement needs to be rubber-stamped by employment ministers as part of the Agency Workers Directive.
CBI deputy director-general John Cridland says the 12-week clause is the "least worst option" and still allows employers and agency workers flexibility: "Half of agency assignments will be unaffected since they last less than 12 weeks protecting businesses' ability to deal with peaks and troughs in demand and shorterterm staff absences.
-And while pay is covered, occupational benefits that recognise the long-term relationship that permanent staff have with an employer, such as sick pay and pensions, are rightly excluded."
TUC president Dave Prentis says: -This is good news for agency workers, particularly those in workplaces where low pay, long hours and exploitation are the norm. Not all agency workers get a bad deal at work, but those that do deserve the full backing of the law, and this agreement brings that protection a step closer."