Temps given equal working rights
Thu 23 Oct 2008
Temporary workers are to enjoy the same employment rights as permanent staff after the European Union approved a new bill.
This will mean that agency workers must get the same guarantees as permanent staff regarding pay, maternity, annual leave and working hours upon joining a new firm.
However, a deal between trade unions and employers will mean that UK temporary workers only receive these benefits after 12 weeks of service, reports BBC News.
The new regulations face criticism from various quarters as it suggested that they will have a potentially negative effect on small businesses.
Mats Persson, of research think-tank Open Europe, told the Birmingham Post that just as the UK sits on the brink of a new recession, "MEPs have done exactly the wrong thing".
"They've passed a law that will lead to fewer jobs and make life even harder for small businesses," he explained.
Around 1.4 million temporary workers are currently employed in the UK, often in positions such as receptionist jobs in Manchester.
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