That is the headline that has been trailed across the media following the Government’s recent agreement with the TUC and CBI on new rights for Agency Workers.

However the position is not quiet as stark as that.  It is proposed that the right to equal treatment will only apply once a worker has been in a job for 12 weeks.  The CBI estimate that half of all agency worker assignments last for less than that and will therefore be unaffected.

Equal treatment will only apply in relation to ‘basic working and employment conditions’ whilst ‘occupational social security schemes’ will be excluded.  There will certainly be further wrangling on the exact scope of the equal treatment obligation but it appears clear that it will cover pay and holiday entitlement, but not sick pay or pensions.

No date has yet been set for the implementation of these measures as there must first be further negotiations within the European Union.  We will keep you informed of developments.

Posted: May 30th, 2008 under Employment/HR.
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