Temps will become second-class workers if Agency Workers Directive doesn’t guarantee training, warns TUC

Temporary workers are losing out on training offered to permanent staff and so becoming ever less likely to secure a permanent contract, according to trade unions.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) says unless temps are given equal employment rights from the day they start working for a company, an ‘underclass’ will be created.

Employers’ groups remain opposed to calls for the proposed EU Agency Workers Directive to give temps full employment rights from day one.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

Email(Required)

OptOut

From time to time, we will send you emails about selected products, events and services from Personnel Today and OHW+ - but you can choose to opt-out at any time. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box.

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

But Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said: “Far from having a bridge to permanent work, temps are in danger of being less likely to move into better paid, more secure work, as their training at work is almost non-existent.

“There is a simple solution – the EU directive could give UK agency workers new rights to equal treatment from the first day they are taken on, ensuring they get the same access to training and development as permanent staff.”