PM 'in EU talks' over temporary workers

Gordon Brown is reported to be holding secret talks with EU officials over proposed legislation to protect the rights of agency and temporary workers.

The Financial Times revealed on Wednesday that the prime minister was attempting to strike a "behind-the-scenes" deal on a European directive which would provide temporary workers with full pay and conditions after six weeks in the job.

In December last year the government blocked regulations to provide improved employment rights to agency workers but France is expected to revive the plans when it takes over the EU presidency in July.

The government has warned that the move could reduce flexibility and impose costs on employers, and business groups say that an employee should be in a job for at least six months before receiving full pay.

According to officials, the government wants confirmation that Brown has proposed a new commission, including unions and employers, which would be able to apply the directive flexibly.

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform refused to comment on the EU negotiations, but said: "We're looking for an agreement that gives us the flexibility we need."

The news comes after MPs backed a private members' bill to extend full employment rights to temporary and agency workers.

The government had opposed the legislation, with ministers warning that the move could hinder British business and the CBI saying 250,000 jobs could be lost as a result.

Brown offered to establish a forum chaired by Low Pay Commission head Sir George Bain to look at the matter, but unions want the government to throw its full weight behind the legislation.

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny said at the time that he was "highly sceptical" of any commission which included business representatives.