HR chiefs hear of permanent changes to temporary work laws

TEMPORARY public sector workers, including 2,000 people in the health service, will soon be automatically entitled to the same pay, overtime, holidays and equal access to on-site facilities as permanent staff.

The default position for the EU-driven Temporary Agency Workers Directive comes into force for the public sector from December 5, with the private sector to follow suit at an, as yet, unspecified delay, Jennifer Cashman, a partner with Ronan Daly Jermyn Solicitors, told attendees at the annual CIPD Southern Region Breakfast Briefing sponsored by RecruitIreland.com in Maryborough House Hotel, Cork.

Entitlements for private sector temporary workers will follow with the minimum delay, following negotiations between the Government, the main unions and social partners. Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has already indicated a preference for temporary workers’ rights to kick in only after six months in the job, versus the 12-week status upgrade currently operating in Britain.