On 1st October 2011, the Agency Workers Regulations come into force. These measures have been introduced to implement the EU Agency Workers Directive, which trade unionists throughout Europe have been fighting for. Read on for full information.
The Regulations give agency workers who have worked in the same role for a period of longer than 12 weeks since 1st October 2011 the right to equality of treatment with permanent directly-employed staff in terms of basic terms and conditions of employment.
This entitlement to equality of treatment extends to:
• Basic Pay
• Night work
• Rest periods
• The duration of working time
• Rest breaks
• Annual leave; and
• A pregnant agency worker is entitled to paid time off for ante natal appointments, provided they have completed the 12 calendar week qualifying period.
For a full explanation of the regulations, see this attached union briefing.
If you are an agency worker, and you believe you are not being paid or treated equally compared with permanent staff, join UNISON today and talk to one of our representatives.