MANUFACTURING leaders from the UK were in Strasbourg yesterday to fight draft legislation that gives temporary staff the same rights as permanent employees.
The draft EU directive gives temporary agency workers the same terms and conditions as permanent employees.
A delegation, led by the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), was due to meet MEPs from Holland, Italy, Germany and the UK.
The EEF believes amendments to the proposals fail to tackle employers' concerns that the proposals will increase business costs.
The draft legislation will require that, after only six weeks with a company, agency workers will receive identical terms and conditions, including pay, as permanent employees.
The EEF was in Strasbourg to argue that agency working in the UK is more complex and varied that in other EU member states.
Alan Hall, EEF Northern director, said: "In the UK we have been regulating employment agencies by legislation for many years.
"Agency workers are already covered by regulations that govern working time, rest breaks, annual holiday entitlement and the national minimum wage.
"The danger is that these proposals will inevitably reduce companies' use of agency workers and damage the very labour market flexibility that member states are trying to achieve."
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