by Kate Holman in Strasbourg
EUROPE-WIDE legislation to protect temporary workers finally won the approval of the European Parliament in Strasbourg after being blocked since 2002 by a small group of member state governments led by Britain. The measure aims to give temps and agency workers equal rights with those of employees on permanent contracts.
While the number of temporary workers has been growing rapidly across the European Union, they are more likely to suffer job insecurity, lower pay and worse conditions than staff colleagues. In principle, the new directive will guarantee protection for temporary workers from day one and cover areas like pay, overtime, holidays and maternity leave.
In Britain, following agreement with the TUC, there will be a qualifying period of 12 weeks with the same employer before the country’s estimated 1.3 million agency workers have the right to the same pay and conditions as permanent staff. This should mean equal treatment for 75 per cent of British temps.
Labour MEPs warmly welcomed the vote. “We have long fought for the protection of agency workers”, said employment spokesperson Claude Moraes. “This is an important step towards giving vulnerable and temporary workers in the UK a fair deal at work.”
The deadlock preventing progress was finally broken in May when Britain – after sustained pressure from trade unions and despite opposition from business – agreed a compromise deal with its EU partners.
