REC highlights concerns on Agency Workers Directive in advance of EU Council meeting

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation is calling for a number of issues to be addressed regarding the Agency Workers Directive ahead of a meeting of the EUís Employment and Social Affairs Council due to take place on 4th October.

Issues including equal pay and equal rights between temps and permanent workers are causing business great concern and the REC is pressing Governments across the EU, in partnership with other industry groups, to ensure the Directive in not damaging to European competitiveness.

The REC believes that the Council need to take into account the distinctive characteristics of industrial relations across Member States. In particular the UK does not have the same system of collective bargaining between industry and Unions, which exist in other EU countries, meaning special provisions in the Directive that could provide exemptions in other countries cannot be applied in the UK

The REC is also calling for a discussion on whether the restrictions and prohibitions on agency work that exist in other EU member states should be lifted. The REC believe that the Directive should focus on promoting the economic benefits of agency work which would help deliver the objectives set out in the Lisbon Agenda. A report commissioned in 2000 estimated that an additional 4 million jobs across Europe could be created if restrictions in agency work on continental Europe were lifted.

Gareth Osborne, Managing Director of the REC, said:

ìThe Directive has missed a great opportunity to promote flexible working and deliver on the targets set out in the Lisbon Agenda. The Directive in its current form does not recognise the very different characteristics of labour markets across Europe and is unworkable and impractical.î