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Bargaining Guide for union officials and reps involved in representing agency workers

Hundreds of thousands of agency workers across the UK face discrimination at work. They are frequently paid less, are required to work excessive hours with no overtime pay, and are entitled to less holiday than directly employed workers doing the exact same job.

After years of campaigning by trade unions, from 1 October 2011, agency workers will benefit from new equal treatment rights. These new rights are contained in the Agency Worker Regulations 2010 (AWR).

From day one of an assignment agency workers will have a right to:

• Equal access to collective facilities provided by the hirer
• Information and the opportunity to apply for vacancies in the hirer's workplace

After 12 weeks in the same role with the same hirer agency workers will have the right to:

• equal treatment on pay, holidays and working time
• improved pregnancy rights

Any work done by an agency worker for a hirer before 1 October 2011 will not count towards a 12 week qualifying period.

The first day that an agency worker can qualify for equal treatment on pay, holidays and working time entitlements will be 24 December 2011.

Available resources:

• Advice leaflet for agency workers [PDF]
• Bargaining Guide for union officials and reps involved in representing agency workers [PDF]

Briefing document (300 words) issued 7 Oct 2011