Local Parliamentary Candidate Jonathan Roberts has expressed his delight at the news that agency workers will be given equal working rights to all other workers.

Trade Unions have, for many years, campaigned for the rights, which will give agency workers equal treatment in their workplace following a 12 week qualification period.  This protection will include new rights over working hours, pay and conditions.

Jonathan said:

“Many agency workers in North Yorkshire have had to suffer unfair treatment, poor working conditions, long hours and relatively low pay.  They deserve protection from exploitation and ruthless employers as do we all.”

“I want to pay tribute to all trade unions, but particularly the TUC for their relentless pursuit of worker rights and tireless campaigning efforts.  Their work goes to show the enduring necessity for trade union involvement in all areas of working life.”

“In the months since I was selected as Labour's Parliamentary Candidate for the area,  I have been approached by dozens of concerned constituents.  I  want to thank all those who have contacted me on this important subject and I am delighted they had their concerns listened to.  It is undoubtedly a huge success for the Labour movement.

Jonathan's comments come after the CBI and TUC reached an agreement last week on how fairer treatment for agency workers in the UK should be promoted, while not removing the important flexibility that agency work can offer both employers and workers.

(a) After 12 weeks in a given job there will be an entitlement to equal treatment.

(b) Equal treatment will be defined to mean at least the basic working and employment conditions that would apply to the workers concerned if they had been recruited directly by that undertaking to occupy the same job. It will not cover occupational social security schemes.

(c ) The Government will consult the social partners regarding the implementation of the Directive more generally, in particular:

(i)                 mechanisms for resolving disputes regarding the definition of equal treatment and compliance with the new rules that avoid undue delays for workers and unnecessary administrative burdens for business;

(ii)        appropriate arrangements to enable the two sides of industry and also public services to reach appropriate agreements on the treatment of agency workers, while respecting the overall protection of agency workers; and

(iii)       appropriate anti-avoidance measures reflecting Art 9 (2), in particular relating to the treatment of repeat contracts for the same worker and the position of workers with permanent contracts of employment with agencies who continue to be paid between assignments; it is not intended that article 5 (2)  will be used to evade the aims of the Directive.

(d) The new arrangements will be reviewed at an appropriate point in the light of experience

The Government will now engage with its European partners to seek agreement on the terms of the Agency Workers Directive that will enable this agreement to be brought into legal effect in the United Kingdom. The Government hopes that EU agreement will be obtained in time for the necessary UK implementing legislation to be introduced in the next parliamentary session.