If I might throw a little anecdotal evidence into this agency workers should have full time rights debate…
I worked for a temp agency for most of 2003-2006. Usually I was on very short term contracts or a few days or weeks. Very rarely did I stay longer than a couple of months. I did this because it suited me and would not have wanted the rights and benefits of a full time member of staff.
Whilst on this itinerant labouring adventure I met many fellow temps, some of whom had been working in the same place for years. They were doing the same job as full time members of staff for less money with no benefits. This doesn’t just mean no pension or sick pay. This means they could be told at any time that they wouldn’t be needed the next day. No warning, no notice, no claiming unfair dismissal.
Temp work can be a great thing if you need some cash to live on but don’t want to get tied to a full time job. But it is too often used by employers to bypass their legal requirements. After a certain period temporary stops being temporary and this needs to be sorted out.
According to the BBC “employers’ groups such as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) say that extending their rights will compromise labour market flexibility and ultimately cost jobs.” Sorry, but three years in one job as a temp sounds like a little too much flexibility.
