Along with wages, the Temporary Agency Workers directive will also guarantee the same minimum breaks and vocational training currently provided for permanent employees to all temporary staff after 12 weeks at work.
Richard said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have finally adopted this and it is fantastic that temporary workers will be paid the same rate as their permanent colleagues. Around five per cent of all working people in Yorkshire & Humber are employed on temporary contracts and at a time when living costs are rising this will be cause for relief for thousands of people in our region.
"It is also good news for people on regular contracts and will help ensure that their rights and conditions are not undermined by unscrupulous employers."
Richard added: "It may have taken some time to agree, and there is still room for improvement, but by adopting this measure the European Parliament has once again shown it is best placed to secure workers' rights not just here in Yorkshire & Humber but across the whole of Europe."/
- 107,600 people are employed on a temporary contract in Yorkshire & Humber
- 1,389,000 people are employed on a temporary contract in the UK
- Statistics courtesy of the GMB - http://www.gmb.org.uk/shared_asp_files/GFSR.asp?NodeID=97270
- Research from the University of Leeds suggests people in temporary contracts earn 10% less than permanent full-time colleagues - http://lubswww2.leeds.ac.uk/CERIC/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/ceric_agency_workers_report.pdf
more information
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- phone 0113 245 8987
- e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk
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