Temporary workers could miss out on equal rights

Temporary workers in the UK could miss out on equal rights to pay and pensions if the Government waters down the implementation of the EU Fixed-Term Contracts Directive.

Find out more about Permanent rights for temporary workers.

Although the Government plans to comply with the 1999 Directive by next July, the TUC is concerned that equal treatment on pay and pensions may be excluded. The TUC also wants new laws to cover the increasing number of agency workers.

There are 1.7 million people in the UK on temporary contracts, ?casuals? or agency workers, 7% of the total workforce. Sixteen percent of temporary workers are now agency workers, compared with just 7% eight years ago.

50% pay temporary workers on different pay rates compared with permanent workers (47% get less and just 3% get more)

70% do not offer the same access to occupational pension schemes

25% do not give access to contractual sick leave to temporary workers

14% do not give holiday pay to temporary workers

The TUC survey, Permanent Rights for Temporary Workers, reveals a two tier temporary workforce emerging: those in high skilled, high tech sectors who are able to ?play the field? and a growing band of those at the lower end of the labour market who are often paid less, get worse terms and conditions and are worried about their job security.