The Engineering Employers Federation is pushing for an amendment to the
controversial agency workers directive that would see certain temporary staff
excluded.
EEF deputy director of employment policy David Yeandle discussed the
amendment during a meeting with Rapporteur leke van den Burg, the MEP working
on the directive’s details.
The proposed amendment would exclude highly paid and skilled temporary
workers such as design engineers from the rules as long as they earn more than
average earnings.
The EEF is concerned that the directive, which could give temporary workers
the right to the same pay and conditions as permanent staff after six weeks,
will damage workforce flexibility and discourage the use of temps.
Yeandle said the delegation – which included several UK employers – were
assured that the new amendments would not mean equal rights from day one of
employment.
