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Agency Workers Directive - Government forces delay  

Last night, the Government gained a delay in the implementation of the Agency Workers Directive, which could put 250,000 UK jobs at risk.

The Directive would ensure that all agency workers would be given full employment rights after just 6 weeks.

Despite pressure from unions, Business Minister John Hutton told the EU summit that he was unprepared to accept the proposed directive in its current form - especially as the UK has a uniquely flexible labour market.

It is estimated that one third of all agency workers in the EU reside in the UK. Over one million temps are working at any one time.

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has warned that the proposals to place temporary workers on an equal footing with permanent staff could make smaller businesses uncompetitive and lead to job losses.

The business pressure group believes that owners of smaller firms will be less inclined to employ temporary workers as a result of the Agency Workers Directive creating more red tape and costs.


Published on Dec 6, 2007


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