Agency Workers Directive will NOT be implemented in April 2010

In a speech to the TUC Conference in Liverpool yesterday, Gordon Brown has indicated that the Agency Workers Directive will be included in the new legislative programme for the next parliamentary session, which effectively means that the Directive cannot be implemented in April 2010.

Although the main aim of the Directive is to protect vulnerable agency workers, many in the industry have argued that it is incompatible to include workers, such as freelancers and contractors, who are highly skilled and generally receive an income well in excess of National Minimum Wage.

As it stands, the Agency Workers Directive will apply to anyone who comes under the definition of an agency worker and there is no provision under the Directive to exclude anyone on the basis of what they earn.

Commenting on yesterday's news, REC's Chief Executive Kevin Green said: "This is a welcome development and shows that the Government is listening to the voice of the recruitment industry.

Last week, REC's Report on Jobs showed that temporary and permanent placements were beginning to rise after nearly 18 months of decline. The availability of a flexible labour force will be key for struggling businesses climbing out of a recession.

Any early implementation of the Directive could kill off these green shoots. REC will continue to lobby strongly on the delay of the implementation of this Directive at the end of 2011."

Further Reading:-

Agency Workers Directive: Freelancers must be excluded, Agency Workers Directice - forum tags, Trouble Temporarily Ahead, Naked Freelancers paints a giraffe,

© 2009 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Image: a re-enactment of hooray by johnrawlinson