REC statement on publication of agency workers' Bill

The Private Members Bill on agency work/temporary staff was published on Wednesday 6th February 2008. The document essentially covers a number of the provisions included in the EU Agency Workers

Directive that has been blocked in Brussels for the past five years. The aim is to push for the equal treatment provisions included in the Directive to be brought in through national law. The Bill will be debated in the House of Commons on February 22nd.

Commenting on its contents, Tom Hadley, REC Director of External Relations said:

"The industry's concerns over how equal treatment provisions would be established and implemented in practice are well known and the intensive lobbying campaigns that have been led in the UK and in Brussels have meant that these concerns are increasingly recognised.

"It is clear that trade union pressure and discussions around the Private Members Bill will keep the spotlight very firmly on proposed new regulations on the provision of temporary work. As a result, it is more important than ever that the industry comes together to take our message to MPs who will be discussing the Bill later this month."

As part of the REC's campaign, there are now more than 400 recruitment champions who have signed up pledging to take the initiative in contacting their own local MPs. In addition, the REC’s forthcoming tracking research is being issued at a crucial time and will help to underpin the industry’s position.

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For more information, please contact Alison Henderson, Press Manager, the REC, 020 7009 2157.

Notes for Editors:

About the REC
The REC, the Trade Association of the Year, is the representative body for the UK's £26.6 billion private recruitment and staffing industry with a membership comprising more than 8,000 corporate businesses and over 6,000 recruitment consultants. All corporate members must abide by a Code of Professional Practice and Professional Individual Members by a Code of Professional Ethics.

The REC is able to speak on all aspects of the labour market, from employment legislation and workplace issues, to skills shortages, implications for the economy of changes in employment levels and the benefits of temporary work.

08.02.08

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