Manufacturing employers body EEF claims rights for temporary workers pose real threat to jobs

The threat to tens of thousands of British jobs through the takeover of Jaguar and Land Rover illustrates the risks of giving temporary workers full employment rights, manufacturers have warned.

Employers body the EEF said that without the ability to use agency staff flexibly to keep costs down, British suppliers would become even less competitive.

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Fears grew last week that political bargaining in Europe would see the Agency Workers Directive give all temps equal rights to permanent staff after just six weeks with a company.

But David Yeandle, EEF deputy director of employment policy, said that the Jaguar and Land Rover jobs threat highlighted the need for caution. “Temps give employers the flexibility to be more economical, and create an environment conducive to keeping jobs in the UK,” he said.