Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • 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

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • 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

Department for Business and Trade (DBT)Employment lawEquality, diversity and inclusionLatest NewsEqual pay

European Union deadlock over Agency Workers Directive raises threat of UK temps getting full employment rights

by Greg Pitcher 10 Dec 2007
by Greg Pitcher 10 Dec 2007

Fears that domestic legislation will be passed giving temporary workers full employment rights have grown after EU ministers failed to reach agreement on the Agency Workers Directive last week.

The UK government was one of the few that opposed the Portuguese presidency’s plan for a six-week qualifying period. Unions have campaigned hard for temps to have equal rights to permanent employees from day one of employment. But employers’ groups want a qualifying period of a whole year with one company before gaining full rights.

David Yeandle, deputy director of employment policy at manufacturers’ body the EEF, said: “This [failure to reach a decision] will intensify pressure on the government to do something domestically, which is a worry. The political scene is difficult for the prime minister at the moment, and he will not want to upset the trade unions.”

Labour MP Andrew Miller is to introduce the Temporary and Agency Workers (Equal Treatment) Bill in February, with backing from unions, in an effort to secure equal rights for these types of workers. The move follows a previous Private Members’ Bill that was ‘talked out’ by the government earlier this year.

Meanwhile, lawyers said that a UK Court of Appeal ruling could yet set a precedent for temps to gain full employment rights. The court is deciding on the case of James v Greenwich Borough Council, where an agency worker initially lost her unfair dismissal case for being replaced while off sick.

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.

Martin Warren, head of employment at law firm Eversheds, said: “While the directive seems to have gone on the back burner once again, the current tussle in the UK courts means the issue of increased rights for agency workers hasn’t gone away.”

Reaction to stalling of Agency Workers Directive

  • “We welcome the news that the proposed Agency Workers Directive has been blocked. If implemented, it would undermine the UK’s flexible labour market.” Mike Emmott, employee relations adviser, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
  • “We have never understood the raison d’etre behind the Agency Workers Directive, and are relieved to see that an agreement was not reached in Brussels.” Helen Reynolds, acting chief executive, Recruitment and Employment Confederation
  • “What is most depressing today is to listen to ministers endorse the business argument that the UK economy can only succeed by having fewer rights for its employees than its competitors.” Brendan Barber, general secretary, TUC

Greg Pitcher

previous post
Employment law quiz: answers
next post
Pensions Bill set to hit employers with £50,000 fines for failing to pay into personal pension accounts

You may also like

Decision to sack man for Michael Jackson noises...

29 Aug 2025

P&O Ferries boss who steered 800 sackings steps...

29 Aug 2025

UK large companies’ succession planning is weak –...

29 Aug 2025

Gender bonus bias widens pay gap, says Brightmine

29 Aug 2025

Bankers learn of redundancy in email gaffe asking...

29 Aug 2025

Cabin crew manager with ‘flirty banter’ loses discrimination...

29 Aug 2025

Council clerk sacked after trying to ensure his...

29 Aug 2025

Four-day working week trial in Scotland’s public sector...

29 Aug 2025

How to employ a global workforce from the...

28 Aug 2025

Day one rights in the Employment Rights Bill...

28 Aug 2025

  • Work smart – stay well: Avoid unnecessary pain with centred ergonomics SPONSORED | If you often notice...Read more
  • Elevate your L&D strategy at the World of Learning 2025 SPONSORED | This October...Read more
  • How to employ a global workforce from the UK (webinar) WEBINAR | With an unpredictable...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
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
    • Recruitment & retention
    • Wellbeing
    • Occupational Health
    • 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