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Agency workersZero hoursLatest News

Zero-hours reforms should exclude agency workers, says APSCo

by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 11 Dec 2024
by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 11 Dec 2024 shutterstock / LittlePigPower
shutterstock / LittlePigPower

Zero-hours reforms should not apply to agency workers, according to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

The trade body for the professional staffing sector is calling for the exemption as it brands current proposals “not fit for purpose”.

In its response to the government’s consultation on the reforms, it warns guaranteed hours for agency staff are both unwanted and impractical for employers, recruiters and the workers themselves.

APSCo believes that, should the plans go ahead, fixed-term agency work should be excluded. It also suggests limiting applicability by either the task or hourly rate. Alternatively, an opt-out provision should be available to individuals with appropriate “no detriment” protections.

Agency workers

Department of Health proposes NHS agency worker ban

Where the agency workers’ zero-hours consultation falls short

Government consults on zero hours measures for agency workers

Tania Bowers, global public policy director at APSCo, said: “The proposals outlined in the zero-hours consultation aren’t deliverable and will have a detrimental impact on access to critical temporary resources in highly skilled professions. This jeopardises crucial services in the likes of healthcare, education, construction and other sectors that are already facing significant staff shortages.”

Since agency workers are called upon to fill unexpected resourcing gaps, such as supply teachers being required in cases of staff sickness, she believes that the very nature of how these workers are engaged is unpredictable by nature.

Bowers added: “The proposals simply aren’t workable for every scenario – and I’d argue that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to this issue.

“There needs to be the recognition that temporary workers in the highly skilled and highly paid segment of the labour market don’t need the same protections as those that are exposed to exploitative zero-hour contracts. Any future plans must account for the fact that guaranteed hours can’t, and in some cases shouldn’t, be offered due to the nature of the work.”

APSCo has also reminded the government that agreements between agency workers and employment businesses are not exploitative zero-hours contracts and shouldn’t be brought in to the Act as a result, according to Bowers.

She highlighted that a clear difference between exploitative zero-hours contracts and agency work is well-regulated through Employment Agency Standards, Agency Worker Regulations, the Conduct Regulations and the Employment Agencies Act.

“It is also fundamental that definitions such as ‘genuinely temporary’ are consulted on before the Act is passed along with the timeframes proposed. A 12-week contract period is far too short within the context of professional sectors where six-month agreements are the norm,” Bowers insisted.

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Kavitha Sivasubramaniam

Kavitha Sivasubramaniam is an experienced journalist, editor and communications professional who has been working in B2B publishing for more than 17 years. After graduating from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multi Media Journalism, Kavitha started her career in local and regional newspapers, before moving to consumer magazines and later trade titles, as well as PR. Specialising in pay and reward, she has been editor of a number of HR publications including Pay & Benefits, Employee Benefits, Benefits Expert, Reward and CIPP’s membership magazine, Professional. In June 2024, she won Pay, Reward and Employee Benefits Journalist of the Year at the Willis Towers Watson media awards. She was also named one of Each Person’s top 20 influential HR bloggers and managed a highly commended content team of the year in 2019.

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