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Press Release

GMB welcome new employment rights for agency workers from October 2011

29 September 2011

Agency workers in a union will be more successful at enforcing their rights and challenging attempts at avoidance than workers who do not enjoy the protection, resources and legal expertise of GMB.

GMB welcomed the introduction of new employment rights for agency workers. The are contained in the Agency Workers Directive that comes into force on 1st October 2001.

Kathleen Walker Shaw GMB European Officer said, “GMB welcome the long awaited rights for temporary and agency workers which will come on stream on 1st October 2011.

These rights will give agency workers day one rights and protections in some areas and equal treatment on pay after a twelve week qualifying period.(See notes to editors below)

GMB wants to see agency and user employers using their energies in stepping up and implementing these rights in the spirit in which they were intended rather than seeking to find loopholes to avoidance.

It is very important that agency workers make sure they are well informed about these rights, as concerns are growing that many employers are beginning to amend or renew contracts in an attempt to avoid ensuring these rights.

The regulations are fairly complicated, Agency workers who are members of a trade union are going to be much more successful at ensuring their equal treatment rights and challenging attempts at avoidance than those who do not enjoy the protection, resources and legal expertise that GMB can offer. The responsibility falls on agency workers to trigger a challenge to enforce their rights to equal treatment, we know that for many doing this individually without union support will be a daunting prospect.”



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