As the body for the UK recruitment industry, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) counters recent attacks by the Transport and General Workersí Union on the treatment of agency workers and states that greater regulation is not the answer, especially when temporary workers in the UK are already covered by most basic employment rights.
Instances of all worker exploitation need to be addressed through enhanced enforcement of current regulations but a radical overhaul of the laws covering temporary work would be counterproductive. In particular, this would limit the flexibility of the temporary work model and would, in effect, limit the job opportunities that temp work provides.
A recent study by BMG research reveals that on the whole, temporary workers are very satisfied, with over half (52%) of all surveyed stating that they choose temping for positive reasons such as increased flexibility, better pay or to gain valuable work experience. The findings from this research are reinforced by external research carried out by Kings College stating that temps are more satisfied with their jobs than permanent workers.
Tom Hadley, external relations manager, REC comments: ìThe trade unions aspire to the regulations in force in other countries yet the reality is, unemployment remains extremely high in many of these places and greater flexibility is increasingly being considered as a way to ease the problem.î
Hadley concludes: ìIn its current form, the Private Members Bill would damage the UK economy and British business and reduce the opportunities for temporary labour in the UK. The EU Agency Workers Directive has remained blocked since 2000 for good reasons. The Private Members Bill, which looks to take forward a number of the same rights for temporary workers would seriously reduce the opportunities for temporary labour in the UK by adding substantial bureaucracy for employers and agencies. Vulnerable workers and preventing exploitation should be a priority; the best way of achieving this is by effectively enforcing current regulations rather than looking to score a political victory by introducing more.î
Recruitment Body States Greater Regulation On Agency Workers Will Jeopardise Flexibility and Jobs
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