Temporary and agency workers: defend and extend new rights
New legislation giving rights to Britain’s 1.8 million temporary workers should be in place by April this year, but will not be enforced until 2011. The Agency Workers Directive (AWD) gives new rights to agency staff after 12 weeks of employment. Rights include equal pay to permanent members of staff, holiday entitlement, childcare, transport facilities and further access to on-site facilities. The legislation, however, doesn’t cover further rights such as pension schemes, sick pay or notice of dismissal. Although the legislation is still seriously lacking in some areas, the labour movement...