Ministers should extend the employment rights available to temporary agency workers, the TUC has said.

The call came as European Union social affairs ministers held two days of talks on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss new regulations.

Ministers from the 25 member states were set to consider the new EU Temporary Agency Workers Directive.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said existing laws allowed companies to deny "equal pay and basic rights" to some workers.

He said the directive should protect temporary agency workers who are often found in the lower paid, low-skilled jobs.

The new regulations would give UK agency workers the right to equal treatment with permanently employed colleagues on issues including pay, working time and holidays, maternity and protection against discrimination.

Splits

There are splits between employers, unions and government over when the new rights should take effect.

Unions say they should be available from day one, the government prefers a six month qualifying period and employers prefer a one year period.

"While this law is stuck in the EU log-jam around 700,000 UK agency workers are being denied equal pay and basic rights," said Barber.

"And agency work is becoming a less popular option as workers realise they are far better protected and paid in fixed-term, part-time, or full-time permanent, employment.

"The UK economy needs the attractive, productive and rewarding agency work that the Directive will deliver. An injection of impetus from the UK government is crucial."