Temporary and Agency workers (Equal Treatment) Bill 2007-08

A Private Members Bill introduced in the UK Parliament by Andrew Miller, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, is due for its second reading on Friday 22 February 2008. The Bill would entitle an individual agency worker to the same basic working and employment conditions as a comparable direct worker. The Bill's provisions follow the European Commission's proposals of 2002 for an EC Directive. The UK Government has stated its commitment to a Directive giving increased protection to temporary and agency workers but has opposed the Directive in its current form. Section 1 of this paper summarises the Bill, whilst Section 2 outlines the proposed Directive; Sections 3, 4 and 5 describe the position of the Government, employers and trade unions.