Rights hope for agency workers

May 15 2008 by Tomos Livingstone, Western Mail

New rights for agency workers could finally be introduced after a long campaign by unions and Labour MPs.

Ministers have been pressed to act on complaints of poor pay and conditions among agency staff, and have accused the Government of blocking European legislation.

Gordon Brown told the Commons the Government was committed to flexibility, adding: “But most people agree it is not fair that even after months in the job, agency workers can currently be paid less than the staff they work alongside.”

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s clear recognition that agency workers get a raw deal, and that there is a need to make life fairer for agency workers. Unions will now step up their campaign to secure proper protection and a fair deal for agency workers.”