Temp and agency workers have union rights too
UNI Global Union believes that the dialogue with temporary work agencies is key to ensuring basic workers rights.
At the UNI Temporary and Agency Workers Global Meeting in Nyon on Thursday, unions from around the world had a chance to discuss their concerns with employers’ representatives from the industry.
In 2008 UNI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Confederation of Private Employment Agencies (CIETT) that has set up a partnership to promote areas of common concern, including social dialogue on issues for temporary workers, protecting the rights of migrant workers and combating undeclared employment.
“Temporary agency work can be good,” said Denis Pennel, managing director of CIETT. “It needs to be regulated. We can work jointly to fight undeclared work. This is unfair competition…so we want to get rid of these kinds of practices and if we can work together on that one we would be very happy.”
Unions are concerned about the temporary agencies plans for growth, which would cut into the number of permanent employee positions worldwide, which are often best for workers. They are also concerned about the temporary agencies positioning themselves as a low-cost alternative for companies.
“Obviously most workers would prefer to have a permanent contract and a relationship directly with their employer than to be a long-term temporary worker,” said Alke Boessiger, head of UNI’s Temp and Agency Workers Department. “But workers who are employed through temp agencies by choice or by chance still need union representation and a strong voice to protect their rights.
Fred van Haasteren, executive vice-president of temporary agency Randstad and Tristan d’Avezac, Communications Director of Adecco, also discussed with the unions the future of temporary work and how to implement the Memorandum of Understanding.
The Temporary and Agency Workers Global meeting was held on September 3-4.
The Memorandum of Understanding with CIETT was created to form a partnership between UNI and
Ciett Corporate Members in order to achieve fair conditions for the temporary agency work industry and temporary agency workers through global social dialogue.