Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 3
3
Accepted
Long-term agency work impacts security and risks zero-hours contract side-stepping.
Conclusion
While the Committee understands that certain workers like the flexibility that comes with agency work and that it can be used as a legitimate short- term employment tool for many businesses, we are concerned about the impact long-term agency work could have on people’s security at work. We have heard evidence of misuse of agency workers’ contracts by some companies and believe there is a risk of unscrupulous companies side- stepping the reforms to zero-hours contracts by using agency workers. (Conclusion, Paragraph 23)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that agency workers should have certainty of hours and has brought forward amendments to the Employment Rights Bill to expand provisions for zero-hour measures to agency workers, with further regulations to be developed after consultation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government believes that every worker should be able to access a contract which reflects hours they regularly work. This should extend to agency workers to offer them certainty of hours and security of income, while also ensuring that agency work does not become a loophole in the plans to end exploitative zero hours contracts. The Government consulted last year on the application of zero-hour measures to agency workers and, following stakeholder feedback, has brought forward amendments to expand on the provisions in the Employment Rights Bill so that hirers, agencies and agency workers are clear where responsibilities will rest in relation to the new rights. Those amendments have now been made. Under the Bill as it now stands, many of the key parameters underpinning the new rights will be set in regulations. The Government will consult on the regulations and will take the necessary time to develop these detailed provisions. By continuing to engage with employer organisations, the recruitment sector and trade unions, the Government intends to identify the best way to achieve the policy objective of extending rights for agency workers without causing unintended consequences to employment agencies and hirers. All workers will be able to remain agency workers if that is what they wish.