Menu
23/06/2005
UK temps ‘least protected in Europe’, TUC claims
UK agency workers are the least protected in Europe, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has claimed, with agency workers in Poland and Slovenia having more rights than British temps.
According to a TUC report into European temporary workers, the UK is one of only three European countries where temps get paid less than colleagues doing similar jobs and one of only four countries, which do not operate a licensing scheme to protect temps from ‘cowboy agencies’.
The TUC said that most of the UK’s estimated 600,000 temporary agency workers receive no sick pay, work pension, protection from unfair dismissal or vocational training and are paid less than colleagues doing similar work.
The union also claimed that temporary working was not a ‘stepping stone’ to a permanent job, saying that over 70% of workers wanted a permanent job but few had access to training.
Temps were also usually “in too vulnerable a position” to enforce the legal rights they did have, the TUC claimed, because they were dependent on the agency for work.
The TUC’s research in the rest of Europe found that, of the 20 EU countries for which information was available, the only other countries were workers did not have the right to be paid the same as a permanent employee were Hungary and Ireland.
And, of the 24 EU countries for which information was available, only Denmark, Finland and Sweden did not require a license for agencies to operate. However, unlike the UK, temporary workers were protected by strong employer and trade union agreements.
The TUC has urged the government to try to break the logjam in negotiations at the EU Council, in order to bring in the Temporary Agency Workers Directive. The union said that this directive would give UK temps the same pay as permanent employers in the same job, as well as other basic rights and measure to improve access to training and career progression.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “The temp trade should not be about getting workers on the cheap, holding them back from quality permanent jobs and throwing them on the scrap heap when employers and agencies are done with them.
“Most European countries have realised that if they are going to increase temping, develop a competitive job market and cut unemployment, they need to make sure that temporary workers are paid well and treated fairly.”
(KMcA/SP)
According to a TUC report into European temporary workers, the UK is one of only three European countries where temps get paid less than colleagues doing similar jobs and one of only four countries, which do not operate a licensing scheme to protect temps from ‘cowboy agencies’.
The TUC said that most of the UK’s estimated 600,000 temporary agency workers receive no sick pay, work pension, protection from unfair dismissal or vocational training and are paid less than colleagues doing similar work.
The union also claimed that temporary working was not a ‘stepping stone’ to a permanent job, saying that over 70% of workers wanted a permanent job but few had access to training.
Temps were also usually “in too vulnerable a position” to enforce the legal rights they did have, the TUC claimed, because they were dependent on the agency for work.
The TUC’s research in the rest of Europe found that, of the 20 EU countries for which information was available, the only other countries were workers did not have the right to be paid the same as a permanent employee were Hungary and Ireland.
And, of the 24 EU countries for which information was available, only Denmark, Finland and Sweden did not require a license for agencies to operate. However, unlike the UK, temporary workers were protected by strong employer and trade union agreements.
The TUC has urged the government to try to break the logjam in negotiations at the EU Council, in order to bring in the Temporary Agency Workers Directive. The union said that this directive would give UK temps the same pay as permanent employers in the same job, as well as other basic rights and measure to improve access to training and career progression.
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “The temp trade should not be about getting workers on the cheap, holding them back from quality permanent jobs and throwing them on the scrap heap when employers and agencies are done with them.
“Most European countries have realised that if they are going to increase temping, develop a competitive job market and cut unemployment, they need to make sure that temporary workers are paid well and treated fairly.”
(KMcA/SP)
Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
14 October 2005
Temps treated like ‘second-class workers’
Many temporary employees are being treated like ‘throwaway second-class workers’, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has claimed.
Temps treated like ‘second-class workers’
Many temporary employees are being treated like ‘throwaway second-class workers’, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has claimed.
12 January 2012
Cautious Welcome For Agency Workers' Bill
Speaking in the Dáil on the Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) Bill, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on jobs and enterprise, said that it was "a step in the right direction in safeguarding the rights of workers", but warned against targeting low-paid workers in an attempt to maintain competitiveness.
Cautious Welcome For Agency Workers' Bill
Speaking in the Dáil on the Protection of Employees (Agency Workers) Bill, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on jobs and enterprise, said that it was "a step in the right direction in safeguarding the rights of workers", but warned against targeting low-paid workers in an attempt to maintain competitiveness.
10 May 2006
TUC Calls For Co-ordination To Prevent Migrant Worker Exploitation
A national strategy for dealing with migrant workers would lead to a greater degree of co-ordination between regional employment, health, education and housing services and would make it more difficult for rogue employers to exploit vulnerable workers, the TUC and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) have said.
TUC Calls For Co-ordination To Prevent Migrant Worker Exploitation
A national strategy for dealing with migrant workers would lead to a greater degree of co-ordination between regional employment, health, education and housing services and would make it more difficult for rogue employers to exploit vulnerable workers, the TUC and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) have said.
11 August 2014
Tempay GMB Members To Protest Over Pay
GMB members employed by employment agency Tempay in Swindon will mount an ABBA themed protest outside the headquarters of Wincanton Logistics in Chippenham on 13th August, at 10:00 am in a dispute over pay.
Tempay GMB Members To Protest Over Pay
GMB members employed by employment agency Tempay in Swindon will mount an ABBA themed protest outside the headquarters of Wincanton Logistics in Chippenham on 13th August, at 10:00 am in a dispute over pay.
04 September 2007
Migrant Workers 'Exploited' Claim TUC
Thousands of Polish and Lithuanian workers are being exploited at work in the UK, the TUC has claimed in a new report. Since 2004, when ten new states joined the EU, more than 475,000 Polish and Lithuanian workers have come to work in the UK.
Migrant Workers 'Exploited' Claim TUC
Thousands of Polish and Lithuanian workers are being exploited at work in the UK, the TUC has claimed in a new report. Since 2004, when ten new states joined the EU, more than 475,000 Polish and Lithuanian workers have come to work in the UK.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:There will be a mixture of bright intervals and a few showers. Best of the sunny spells will be near the North Coast. Feeling on the cool side. Maximum temperature 10 °C.Tonight:Showers will gradually die out during the evening. A cold night with long clear spells leading to a touch of frost in places. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
