Temporary workers proposal meets with strong criticism

Date: 31/10/02

By Martin Banks

MEPs have come under fire for proposing a revised EU directive on temporary agency workers.

Under the plans, agency workers would have the right to the same pay and conditions as equivalent permanent workers from the first day of their job rather than after six weeks in the post, as suggested by the European Commission.

The new proposal, put forward by the employment and social affairs committee, will be considered by the European Parliament's next plenary session on 7 November.

However, it has already met with strong criticism from the Federation of European Employers.

Its secretary-general, Robin Chater, said: 'Not only have MEPs decided to apply this measure to all temporary work assignments, whatever their duration, but what happens if a company employs a large number of temps to deal with workflow problems?

'In order to treat a temp in the same way as permanent staff in a company, it will be necessary to find them a comparable job.

'But what if there isn't one? In this case, it will be necessary to invent one.'

The committee's suggested amendment did not win the support of all its members.

Liberal Liz Lynne warned it would cost thousands of jobs and called for the impact of any changes to be fully assessed.

MEPs have come under fire for proposing a revised EU directive on temporary agency workers.