Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • 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
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • 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
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Agency workersEmployment lawLatest NewsHR practice

Agency workers Bill is an unnecessary burden

by Louisa Peacock 7 Mar 2008
by Louisa Peacock 7 Mar 2008

Employers are fearful that the controversial agency workers Bill, which is already causing problems, will be usurped by even more employment legislation.

The Temporary and Agency Workers (Equal Treatment) Bill, sponsored by Labour MP Andrew Miller, would give agency workers the same right to the terms and conditions as permanent or directly employed staff, such as equal pay, pensions and training entitlements.

But with the EU Agency Workers Directive set to be firmly back on the agenda this summer, the British Chambers of Commerce has argued there is no point in introducing the new UK law now. Chris Hannant, head of policy, told Employers’ Law: “If we agree on the Bill now, the EU directive will come along and take precedence anyway. This will lead to double implementation for employers – which is the worst-case scenario.”

The UK government blocked plans on EU regulation last December. But with France taking over the EU presidency this year, and looking set to revive plans to allow agency workers equal rights after a qualifying period of only six weeks in the job, the UK may face defeat on the issue.

Which leads to another point overlooked by the Bill, according to campaigners against it the qualifying period for which agency workers should be eligible for the same rights.

The TUC has called for equal rights to be effective from day one, whereas business groups believe agency workers should wait at least a year.

Shadow business minister and Conservative MP for Huntingdon, Jonathon Djanogly, said: “The qualifying period is nothing to do with this Bill it just states ‘equal rights’ for agency workers. The situation in Europe makes this Bill irrelevant.”

Djanogly also said the new Bill does little to encourage flexibility in the labour workforce, echoing the CBI’s view that the additional burden of legislation could force companies to axe 250,000 temporary jobs.

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

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

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

Employer groups are unanimous in their belief that better enforcement of UK law is needed to protect agency workers – not new law.

Djanogly added: “This is somehow a Bill to help workers being victimised – but there are laws already to deal with workers being victimised. They’re not being enforced and they should be.”

Louisa Peacock

previous post
Chancellor Alistair Darling’s Budget plans for business
next post
Employers may be liable for injuries sustained by third-party equipment

You may also like

Number of police working second jobs doubles

15 Jul 2025

Mansion House speech: will employers’ pension contributions rise?

15 Jul 2025

University staff to strike over hybrid working curbs

15 Jul 2025

Employees voting with feet as return-to-office pressure increases...

15 Jul 2025

Businesses warned against reducing recruitment in favour of...

15 Jul 2025

Postmasters could take ownership of Post Office

14 Jul 2025

Ethnicity and disability pay gaps: Ready to report?...

14 Jul 2025

Manager dismissed after covert recording with HR wins...

14 Jul 2025

Food sector warned it is facing a workforce...

14 Jul 2025

Gregg Wallace investigation: 45 allegations upheld

14 Jul 2025

  • Empower and engage for the future: A revolution in talent development (webinar) WEBINAR | As organisations strive...Read more
  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...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 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • 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
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+