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March 2007

March 8th 2007

Britain: bill of rights for agency workers defeated in Parliament

Britain’s trade unions have welcomed the support of more than 100, mainly Labour, Members of Parliament (MPs) who on 2nd March supported a draft law in the UK Parliament to give employment protection to workers in temporary employment and workers who are supplied to firms by employment agencies. But the bill was defeated.

1.4 million workers in the UK are defined as temporary or agency workers. Before the debate, agency workers from all over the country came to Parliament to tell MPs about their experiences. They told similar stories, about being paid much less than their directly employed counterparts, their having to go to work when sick because they are not entitled to sick pay, about being laid off work without notice, often after many year's of employment, and not being able to have holidays, cars or mortgages.

The draft legislation was in the form of a ‘private members bill’, a proposed new law which is originated by backbench MPs rather than by the government. It was ‘talked out’ by lengthy speeches against it, which means that it will not go to a vote in the House of Commons. However, well over 100 MPs attended the debate.

The bill's supporters vowed to fight on. They criticised the government for not giving its support when legislation for agency workers had been promised by the Labour Party before the last election.  However, no government legislation for agency workers has been forthcoming and the UK government is known to have been partly responsible for stalling a European directive designed to give agency workers employment rights.

The bill, brought by Paul Farrelly, Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, and supported by trade unions, would give agency workers the same rights to pay, sick leave and overtime as directly employed staff.

Trade union general secretaries Derek Simpson of Amicus, Tony Woodley of the T&G, Billy Hayes of the CWU, Paul Kenny of the GMB, and Dave Prentis of Unison, issued a joint statement:

“Today's events demonstrate the need and the urgency for legislation and the fact that MPs across the country see this as an absolute priority.

“Unfortunately the government has chosen not to support this bill, and for this reason it is likely not to proceed, but they need be aware of the extent of the problem, and the devastating impact it is having on many people's lives and those of their families.

“Without the protection that only legislation can provide, workers will continue to be exploited by unscrupulous employers and this scourge in society will be allowed to continue. This is not the end of our campaign- it can only be the beginning.”

Trade unions have also warned that the exploitation of workers and the tension it is causing in workplaces and wider communities provides ammunition for extremist organisations such as the racist British National Party (BNP).