New laws to benefit agency workers

Agency workers will enjoy increased employment rights under new legislation put forward by Gordon Brown last week.

UCATT general secretary Alan Ritchie is now demanding that the proposed laws "must guarantee equal rights from day one".

Contractors, unions and labour agencies are now anxiously awaiting details of the law on "fair treatment of agency workers".

The government has so far blocked a draft European Directive giving equal rights to agency workers, but it is thought to be losing this battle. It is also under heavy pressure at home from a Private Member's Bill on equal treatment, which has won sufficient support to progress to committee stage.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation said: "The new regulations must focus on abuse and not limit the job opportunities that temping brings for millions of workers every year."