Agency Workers’ Directive

After 12 weeks at work temps in the UK will have the right to equal treatment with direct recruits, following the EU’s acceptance of the Temporary Agency Workers’ Directive in October. EU member states have until 2011 to implement the Directive. However, the Directive permits member states to allow unions and employers to agree differing arrangements through bargaining.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the Directive was the result of six years of campaigning by unions. “Opponents of more rights for temps have now lost and the UK cannot now opt out of better rights for agency workers,” he added.