Fair deal for agency workers

Usdaw is welcoming the Government’s new commitment to a fairer deal for agency workers.

The announcement, that agency workers will be entitled to the same rights as permanent workers after a 12-week qualifying period, came as part of today’s Queen’s speech.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, said:

“I am delighted that the Government has listened to our concerns and made this commitment to equal rights for agency workers. This will mean that they will be entitled to the same pay, holidays, overtime, breaks, rest periods, night work and duration of working time as permanent workers after 12 weeks. We would like to see these new rights implemented as quickly as possible.

“Usdaw has long campaigned to the Government for equal rights for agency workers. This will not only benefit the agency workers themselves, but permanent workers who can find themselves undercut by rogue employers exploiting agency workers.

“We will continue to campaign for agency workers to be given equal rights from day one, but see this very definitely as a move in the right direction.

“Press reports indicate that the Tories plan to frustrate the Government’s programme. I hope they will give this measure their full support to stop rogue employers from exploiting agency workers and undercutting permanently employed staff.”

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Cherry Hamilton, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail cherry.hamilton@usdaw.org.uk
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fourth biggest trade union, with over 383,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service at: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/site/email.html

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