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Taylor Review: Agency workers recommendations

TUC response to the BEIS consultation
Report type
Consultation response
Issue date
Key findings

Policy recommendations

The government should introduce wide-ranging reforms to protect agency workers. These should include

  • The first priority must be to repeal of the Swedish derogation, to ensure all agency workers have the same rights to equal pay.
  • After 12 weeks doing the same job for the same hirer, hirers should be required to assess whether the work done by the agency worker is required on an on-going basis.  If so, the agency worker should be offered a permanent contract with the hirer.
  • The rules on employment status should revised to ensure agency workers benefit from the same floor of rights as employees.  
  • The government should extend GLAA licensing to other sectors, particularly high risk sectors.
  • The law should be reformed to ensure end-users, agencies and umbrella companies are jointly and severally liable for any breaches of employment law.
  • The government should substantially increase resources for the EAS to ensure that the inspectorate can properly fulfil its enforcement duties.
  • The penalties for non-compliance with agency workers' rights should be increased. Agencies and umbrella companies which breach minimum standards should be required to pay increased fines and full compensation to work seekers.
  • Public procurement rules should be revised so that agencies and umbrella companies which breach agency workers' rights are not awarded public contracts.

The TUC appreciates the opportunity to respond to the BEIS consultation on the recommendations contained in the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices on agency workers.  Our key views on the Taylor review recommendations and the issues raised for consultation can be found in our report

Related consultation reports

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