Current News

The Bill is dead, as eyes fix on Brussels

The Temporary and Agency Workers (Equal Treatment) Bill proposed by Andrew Miller was withdrawn today (May 21st) following an announcement at Prime Minister’s Questions.
 
The death of the Bill was inevitable following yesterday’s announcement that there had been an agreement between business organisations including the REC and the trade unions.

Attention will now revert to agreeing a workable Agency Workers Directive in Brussels.

Anne Fairweather, the REC’s Head of Public Policy said: “The Private Members Bill was so broad and far-reaching that it would have been disastrous for the recruitment industry. The fact that it has now been abandoned is a welcome development”.

Fairweather continued “However we now face new challenges, both here and in Europe to ensure the provisions of the Directive are clear. The REC is confident that a suitable compromise will be reached in Brussels which will support our successful labour market”.

In recent weeks, the REC has been vocal in opposing this Bill and raised awareness among MPs on the committee of what was at stake. This included holding meetings with supporters of the Bill – Labour MPs John Heppell and Andrew Miller.

The REC also advised Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Business, Lorely Burt who tabled a raft of amendments to question the practicalities of the Bill and publicly thanked the REC at a Committee meeting of 14th May for the assistance it offered.