European Parliament approves text for the proposed Temporary Agency Workers Directive
The European Parliament last week approved without amendment the text for the proposed Temporary Agency Workers Directive agreed by the Council of Ministers in June 2008. The Directive provides for equal basic working and employment conditions for agency workers compared to permanent employees from the first day of an assignment except where, as in the UK, the social partners in a Member State agree otherwise. The UK Government, the TUC and the CBI reached agreement in May 2008 that agency workers in the UK will be entitled to equal treatment only after 12 weeks.
The Directive must be implemented into UK law within 3 years of it coming into force. The UK Government indicated when it reached agreement with the UK social partners in May 2008 that it would introduce implementing legislation in the 2008-2009 Parliamentary session.
Click here for the press release of the European Parliament.
Click here for the press release of the European Commission.
