One of the main principles underpinning the Agency Workers Directive (AWD) is to give temporary agency workers equal treatment after 12 weeks. This will mean that temporary workers will need to be paid the same and have the same access to holidays, rest breaks, overtime and public holidays. REC members are advised to see our members-only campaign briefing on the Agency Workers Directive for more information.

There is also information available designed for agencies to pass to their clients including a myth buster factsheet. The Agency Work Commission In what has been a heavily politicised debate, the REC is taking a proactive lead to ensure that equal treatment provisions are workable in the UK and the practical difficulties are acknowledged and addressed. We therefore set up the REC Agency Work Commission in the summer of 2008 made up of a cross panel of REC members, employment lawyers and clients to influence the debate and make recommendations on the following:

What will be the process for establishing equal treatment? What is the scope of equal treatment? Will it be the agency or the client who will be liable for establishing equal treatment? How will Master / Neutral vendors, Umbrella companies and Limited Company Contractors be affected? How can we prevent an increase in employment claims around equal treatment? Agency Work Commission Report The Report was the produce to the Commission and outlines how equal treatment can best be implemented in the UK. It was published in February 2009 and presented to the Employment Relations Minister Pat Mcfadden. Click here for a summary of the report.

A full copy of the 34 page report is available on to REC members and other stakeholders on request by emailing philip.curry@rec.uk.com News from REC