Labour Research October 2002

Features: Law queries

Law queries

Does the new law which gives rights to fixed-term contract workers also apply to agency workers? We have a number of agency staff at my work and they seem to be paid much less that the permanent workers get.

The new law (see opposite) only covers those who are directly employed. Workers employed through agencies do not have the right to equal treatment with directly employed workers. The European Commission intends to introduce a new directive to cover agency workers.

* More information: LRD's guide to the law on fixed-term employees is out this month.