Commenting ahead of the EU Council of Ministers' meeting tomorrow, which is expected to discuss proposals in the Agency Workers' Directive, David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said.
"A key element of the UK's success in job creation has been a flexible labour market. Legislation that reduces flexibility will only serve to harm the economy.
"The UK agency sector is well established with one third of all agency workers in Europe employed here. As a result, current proposals in the Agency Workers' Directive will disproportionately affect the UK, particularly plans to make temporary workers eligible for equal pay six weeks into an assignment.
"Our position is that the derogation from the directive on pay should be extended to 12 months. This is in line with other employment rights like unfair dismissal and ensures that an ongoing relationship between the agency worker and the end-user has been established.
"We urge the government to stand firm during the negotiations and not to allow the competitiveness of British business to be adversely affected."
British Chambers of Commerce
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