UK: Talks aim to avoid dispute over agency workers' rights
Last minute negotiations were being held tonight between European Government ministers and officials in a bid to head off a row over new employment rights for temporary and agency workers.
The UK Government has been opposed to a new directive, arguing it would damage the country’s flexible labour market and hit jobs.
Ministers have also been trying to maintain the UK’s opt out from the European Working Time Directive, which aims to limit the working week to 48 hours.
Business groups have urged the Government to stand firm on both issues despite growing calls from trade unions to accept an Agency Workers Directive to stop temporary staff receiving less pay, holidays, training and pensions than full-time employees.
Britain and Germany are among the countries opposed to a directive, but they could be outvoted when employment ministers meet in Brussels tomorrow.
Sources in Brussels told the Press Association today that the UK Government was offering deals to other countries if they supported its stance against an agency workers directive.
“It’s on a knife edge,” said the source.
Both sides of industry stepped up their demands today amid warnings that the issue could seriously hit the UK’s relationship with the European Union.
John Cridland, deputy director-general of the CBI, said: “Hundreds of thousands of people in the UK choose to work on temporary placements and value the flexibility it gives them, whilst the economy benefits from firms’ ability to meet extra demand at busy times.
“These are real jobs in a successful economy, but many of them are at risk if the agency directive is passed in its current form. This is a key test of whether European nations understand the need for flexible labour markets that can meet the challenges of globalisation.”
Martin Temple, director general of the Engineering Employers Federation said: “If the EU is really serious about wanting to avoid exporting jobs, member states should not introduce legislation that will adversely affect Europe’s labour market in the way that these Directives would do.”
David Frost, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “A key element of the UK’s success in job creation has been a flexible labour market. Legislation that reduces flexibility will only serve to harm the economy.
“The UK agency sector is well established with one third of all agency workers in Europe employed here. As a result, current proposals in the Agency Workers Directive will disproportionately affect the UK.”
Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said: “We have been working towards this moment for over five years and it is now crunch time for the UK Government.
“The UK is behind the times on this issue because many member states already enjoy equal treatment of agency workers.
“The Government needs to consult its conscience – this is a moral issue and it is time that this injustice ends.”
Meanwhile, backbench Labour MP Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port) today introduced a Private Members Bill in the House of Commons aimed at launching domestic legislation to give new rights to agency workers.
