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The legislation will introduce equal treatment for agency workers on holidays and overtime after 12 weeks in a job.



Commenting on the government announcement Unite's (one of UNI's affiliates in the UK) joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said: “We have fought long and hard for agency workers. This directive is good news but it needs to be very well defined to prevent employers exploiting loopholes. During this recession agency workers are being used as cannon fodder by employers. The government must act swiftly to introduce protection for agency workers as agreed with the unions. That includes rights to notice periods and redundancy pay. Unite will vigorously oppose any attempt to dilute the original spirit of the directive."

"The directive must be implemented in the UK to ensure that this can not happen again. Agency workers have family commitments, they have to find money every month to put food on the table and pay the mortgage just like full-time workers.”



Welcoming the launch of the Department for Business (BERR) consultation on implementing the Temporary Agency Worker Directive TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said that agency workers were often treated unfairly at work. The new laws must provide real protection for temps, and any legal loopholes which would allow unscrupulous employers to avoid the law and to undercut reputable firms must be closed. Agency workers must have the right to equal treatment on pay, including basic pay, bonuses, and redundancy pay.