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Private Members Bill aims to increase rights for agency workers

By Sue Mennell (27-02-2007)
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Learning and Development News - Private Members Bill aims to increase rights for agency workers

A Private Members Bill, has been introduced by Paul Farrelly, MP.  If passed the Bill would provide for no less favourable treatment for agency worker than those on fixed full-time or part-time contracts.

A new report by the TUC, Agency Workers - counting the cost of flexibility finds that:

  • A significant proportion of agency workers are young or from ethnic minority groups.
  • Just under half of those interviewed say they have taken on agency work as they cannot find permanent employment.
  • Just over a quarter of agency workers are employed in the same position for over a year, but unlike permanent employees, they accrue no rights.
  • Agency workers suffer financially.  They have access only to minimum benefits and rights, are on average paid up to 20% less than full time employees for the same type of work, and have no job security.

Although agency workers are entitled to some general employment rights, including National Minimum Wage and rights under the Working Time Regulations, because a distinction is made between 'employees' and 'workers', with agency workers falling into the second category, they are unable to claim the rights of employees to rights such as unfair dismissal or redundancy protection.

 

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