Jobs talks stall over temporary workers issue

Date: 31/05/01

By Laurence Frost

EMPLOYERS want the European Commission to take a "neutral approach" when it comes out with proposals on conditions for temporary workers, after negotiations with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) broke down last week.

The unions confirmed they abandoned talks with employers' organisation UNICE after the parties failed to agree on the definition of a 'comparable worker'.

In most EU states, working conditions for temps drafted into firms by their agencies are measured against those of colleagues in the firm where they are posted or from the same agency.

The talks broke down after UNICE refused to let permanent colleagues become the main reference for temps' working conditions. Now the organisation wants EU social affairs chief Anna Diamantopoulou to leave that decision to member states.

But such an approach seems unlikely from the Greek Commissioner, who recently promised MEPs firm action if the negotiations stalled. Commission officials privately dismiss the commitment offered by UNICE to give equal treatment to all temps from the same agency. "I can't see the point of that," said one. "There should be equality of treatment within any firm between temporary and non-temporary workers - that's the point."

Employers want the European Commission to take a 'neutral approach' when it comes out with proposals on conditions for temporary workers, after negotiations with the European trade Union Confederation (ETUC) broke down.