Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Latest NewsHR practiceAgency workers

Agency workers all-clear gives UK temps same rights as permanent staff

by Greg Pitcher 22 Oct 2008
by Greg Pitcher 22 Oct 2008

The Agency Workers Directive has been passed by the European Parliament – giving temporary workers in the UK equal rights to permanent staff after 12 weeks with an employer.

The UK secured this 12-week qualifying period due to the 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.

Trade unions welcomed the news. Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said: “Too many agency workers in the UK have faced unfair treatment and injustice.

“Now agency workers will now finally have a fair deal and be entitled to the same pay as permanent staff doing the same job, and receive much stronger legal protection from exploitation.”

Under the law passed today, the UK’s estimated 1.3 million agency workers will get the same pay and basic working conditions as permanent staff after being employed for 12 weeks.

In May, the CBI said that the deal struck with the CBI was the “least worst” option for employers. It is not yet clear when this law would come into force in the UK.


In this clip (left), Jon Fisher, employment lawyer with Pinsent Masons, is not surprised new agency workers rights were given the all clear but says employers will be very concerned if the working time opt-out is lost.

Read further reaction to the European Parliament passing the Agency Workers Directive.

 

 

Avatar
Greg Pitcher

previous post
Dealing with malingerers – weekly dilemma
next post
HDA, founder member of CareerNet International (CNI)

You may also like

Lego leader lands top spot for AI in...

22 Sep 2023

Managing the risks of ‘working from anywhere’ requests...

22 Sep 2023

Leavesden studios expansion to create 4,000 jobs

22 Sep 2023

What does it mean to be an HR...

22 Sep 2023

How to retain key talent using the power...

22 Sep 2023

Unions and industry voice irritation with green policy...

21 Sep 2023

AI in employment: the pitfalls and laws on...

21 Sep 2023

Coalition of firms sets out to boost diversity...

21 Sep 2023

Personnel Today Awards 2023 shortlist: Candidate Experience Award

21 Sep 2023

Top family-friendly employers for 2023 named

20 Sep 2023

  • Discover the value of CIPD accreditation PROMOTED | See how the CIPD can increase your earning potential...Read more
  • What does it mean to be an HR professional in 2024? (survey) PROMOTED | The world of HR is changing rapidly...Read more
  • The Contractor Management Mastery Pack: Everything you need to manage and pay global contractors PROMOTED | Answers to cross-border...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+