Agency Workers Directive must come into force in the UK by 5 December 2011

The Agency Workers Directive must come into force in the UK by 5 December 2011, the European Union (EU) has announced.

The EU set the implementation date as it published the official wording of the directive – which will give temps in the UK equal rights to permanent staff after 12 weeks with an employer.

The UK secured this 12-week qualifying period due to a deal previously struck by the CBI and the TUC.

All other member states have to give equal rights to temps from their first day – unless they reach such an agreement domestically.

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 - 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

However, UK employers remain keen that the government does not bow to trade union pressure to bring the directive into force earlier than the late 2011 deadline.

David Yeandle, head of employment policy at manufacturers’ body the EEF, said: “We are urging the government to use the full three-year period that is provided before implementing this directive in the UK.”