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date: 8 May 2009

embargo: For immediate release

TUC welcomes new rights for agency workers

Welcoming the launch of the Department for Business (BERR) consultation on implementing the Temporary Agency Worker Directive today (Friday) TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This new Directive is the result of six years of committed campaigning by unions. It is good news for agency workers across the UK, who often lose out on pay, holiday pay and working time rights.

'The Directive also means that temps will have improved access to training, to permanent jobs and to childcare.

'Early consultation by the Government is welcome. It is vital that the introduction of the new regulations is treated as a priority, to ensure that vulnerable workers are protected and that the exploitation of temps by rogue agencies ends as soon as possible.

'Agency workers are often treated unfairly at work. The new laws must provide real protection for temps, and any legal loopholes which would allow unscrupulous employers to avoid the law and to undercut reputable firms must be closed.

'Agency workers must have the right to equal treatment on pay, including basic pay, bonuses, and redundancy pay.

'The 12-week qualifying period for equal rights for agency workers must also be tightly defined, so employers cannot get round the law by hiring temps on a series of short-term contracts, or moving them to different assignments in the same workplace.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 8 May 2009