Governments need to be careful that the proposed European temporary agency workers directive does not lead to a loss of jobs. The warning was given by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) ahead of next week’s meeting of European employment ministers to debate the issue. The directive has been under negotiation for several years, but the meeting of 5 December is the first time it has been discussed at this level since 2004. Under the directive, agency workers would receive entitlements to the same pay and basic working conditions as an employee recruited directly into the position. The REC has urged governments not to jeopardise job creation as a consequence of the new rules. Tom Hadley, the REC’s director of external relations, said: “It is vital that any agreement does not result in a reduction in the number of temporary jobs in the UK. The recruitment industry places 1.3 million people into work every week. “This is a vital contribution to both employers and workers. Employers can bring in the extra resource at short notice when it is needed, for example during peaks in production. Meanwhile over a third of temporary workers choose to work through agencies as it offers them the flexibility in their working life they require. Others use temporary work as a route into employment or a bridge between more permanent positions.” Mr Hadley expressed concerns that the directive’s provisions on equal treatment for agency staff may impose unnecessary administrative burdens: “Recruitment agencies often make placements within hours of being notified of an assignment, the necessity of identifying a comparable pay rate would add more bureaucracy into the process and slow this process up.” He also highlighted the risk that the rules may deter employers from taking on temporary employees through a fear of claims being made against them. Mr Hadley added: “If a worker disputes their salary or treatment they would have to enforce this in an employment tribunal. This additional risk may result in employers using provisions, such as overtime, to meet peaks in demand, thus reducing job opportunities for new entrants into the labour market.” Date:30 November 2007
Content by: Made Simple Group
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