UK Temporary Workers Speak Out To Protect Choice

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) took the views and concerns of the UK temporary workforce direct to number 10 Downing Street on Tuesday 20 September. The clear message to the Prime Minister was that a majority of temporary workers actually value the flexibility, opportunity and employability that temping affords and are alarmed about possible EU regulations that would jeopardise the viability of temporary work in the UK.

The Protecting Choice campaign is based on independent research carried out among 2,500 UK temps with nine out of ten saying that the opportunity to balance work and personal life was the main benefit of temping and 77 per cent stating that they felt as valued as permanent employees.

Research findings include:

*84% of temporary workers believed that temping gave them independence and control over their own destiny

*86% of temporary workers believe that temping gives them invaluable experience and the opportunity to learn more things

*81% of temporary workers believe that temping gives them the opportunity to work when they want to and the security of having work available when needed.

*61% of temporary workers are not interested in joining a trade union

Commenting on the research, Gareth Osborne, Managing Director of the REC said: Temporary workers are sick of being patronised and portrayed as systematically undervalued and underpaid. The first hand accounts we have confirms that flexible working is increasingly valued.> >

The research follows last weekís Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Brighton where trade union leaders demanded increased employment regulation that will lead to less opportunities for the UKís temporary workforce. Although the Trade Unions continue to peddle an image of temporary workers as systematically exploited and underpaid, the feedback from temporary workers themselves paints a very different picture.

The TUC continues to call for further regulation without any regard for the impact it could have on individual choice and employment opportunities,continued Osborne. Our research shows that there is a valuable pool of highly-skilled temporary workers who play a vital role in making the UK economy one of the strongest in Europe. We urge the Government to remain strong in resisting attempts to impose the kind of legislation that would damage this.

Other key reasons given for wishing to protect the viability of temporary work in the UK includes the variety and independence it affords as well as the opportunities for developing new skills in a range of different jobs and workplaces. The very term ítemporary workí is in danger of becoming redundant as more workers opt for flexible and autonomous working options on a long-term basis.