Agency Workers Regulations equal conditions to apply from Christmas Day 2011

Nov. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Commenting on the Personnel Today article of 17th November  “employers face temporary agency worker shortage over busy festive season” Adrian Marlowe, chairman of the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC), pointed out that it will be exactly Christmas Day next year that agency workers will first achieve equal basic working and employment conditions set out in the Agency Workers Regulations 2010.

“This particular Christmas gift from the government is one that may excite many agency workers, but where the result is added cost to hirers the contents may not match the wrapping paper. Some hirers may simply decide that it may be more cost effective to extend overtime to their existing workforce than take on agency workers for a period of more than 12 weeks, thus limiting the opportunities for agency workers.”

Adding to the comments from de Poel MD John Salisbury, Adrian said “Whilst next year there is unlikely to be a similar pre VAT rush, being able to use agency workers will remain key. Hirers that are really concerned about the effect of the Agency Workers Regulations would do well to work closely with recruitment consultancies to explore options that can help to minimise potential on cost, rather than adopt a different plan for next year. Although the Regulations are challenging to a certain extent, the main issue will be the same – the numbers available.”

“To help towards overcoming number shortage hirers can help by using agency workers more often generally. This would inevitably be matched by the efforts of recruitment consultancies, would encourage more people to work as agency workers as work becomes available, and thus allow demand over the festive season to be easier met.”

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