New agency temps proposals will damage work opportunities says BRC

The BRC stresses agency workers are already covered by all key employment rights and the proposed changes will serve only to damage the UK's flexible labour market, leading to less agency work being offered and a reduction in businesses' ability to respond to changes in demand.

Retailers have always supported the protection of long-term temporary staff, so called 'permatemps', but feel the best way to achieve this would be to give these workers the same rights as permanent members after a qualifying period of one year - the same as other time-limited employment rights, such as protection from unfair dismissal.

Stephen Robertson, BRC Director General said: "This announcement seems like a cosy stitch-up between Government and unions. But the unions are wrong to regard this as a victory for workers. They will see flexible working opportunities disappear yet not be replaced by permanent jobs, while businesses will struggle to respond to peaks and troughs in demand and to cover for absent permanent staff.

"Retailers support protecting workers' rights but temporary staff are already covered by all key employment rights and protected by health and safety and discrimination legislation.

"The UK currently has an excellent reputation for its flexible labour market making it an attractive place for companies to invest and create jobs. These proposals will damage this status.

"Government and unions should be concentrating on those workers who have been in temporary positions for a long time. Adding prohibitive costs will deter companies from using agency workers and twelve week contracts will become the norm - this is not in the interests of employers or workers."