Agency Worker Regulations
Most employers will know by now that the Agency Worker Regulations (2010) will be implemented on the 1st October 2011. Temporary agency workers will be given equal treatment in terms of basic working and employment conditions as directly employed workers doing the same job. The implementation will be the same as the draft.
Equal treatment relates therefore to basic pay, working hours, overtime, breaks and rest periods, holidays, training and ‘collective facilities’ e.g. childcare. It does not include pension provision and occupational sick pay. The regulations do not alter the employment status of temporary agency workers. The worker will have to have has worked in the relevant role for 12 weeks to benefit for the majority of rights.
Detailed guidance is available from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS).
http://www.lge.gov.uk/lge/core/external-link.do?redirectUrl=http%3A//www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/a/11-949-agency-workers-regulations-guidance