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26 February, 2007
In the United Kingdom, a private member’s bill in Parliament to extend full employment rights to workers of employment agencies has the full support of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) and Amicus, both ICEM affiliates. UK’s government has been lax in implementing a new European Union directive giving agency and migrant workers new rights across all 27 EU nations.
But that now has changed, thanks to a bill by Labour MP Paul Farrelly of Newcastle-under-Lyme. His bill to introduce into law the same rights, pensions, and working conditions that full-time workers enjoy, apparently has awoken the UK’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), at least partially.
On 20 February, DTI ministers agreed that they will consult on measures to protect the 1.4 million agency employees working in UK’s economy.
TGWU Gen. Sec. Tony Woodley said, however, that UK’s government must go further, while pledging full support to MP Farrelly’s bill: “Agency workers need protection, not simply advice on how to deal with abusive employers. Without domestic legislation, 1.4 million agency workers in this country will continue to face discrimination.”
Regarding DTI’s announcement, Woodley added, “At Warwick, the government agreed to support the EU directive on agency workers, the fundamental principle of which is equal treatment. In the absence of any progress at EU level, we need EU legislation that will ensure this equality. What has been announced (by DTI) falls far, far short of this and will not significantly assist workers who endure abuse or undercutting because the law allows agency workers to be discriminated against on essential matters like pay, sick leave, and overtime.
“There is an opportunity with Paul Farrelly’s private member’s bill to outlaw this mistreatment. We urge government to grab it – and we urge MPs not to be misled into thinking that (DTI’s) consultation will deliver the fundamental employment protections that vulnerable agency workers need.”
The Farrelly bill received full support from Amicus Gen. Sec. Derek Simpson when it was introduced. MP Farrelly is hoping to get backing from 100 MPs in March for the measure. Britain’s government stands accused of actively blocking the directive at the EU level.