Agency workers to have same rights as full-timers from today

From today, agency workers can look forward to having the same rights as full-time workers under a new European directive.

It is expected the new rules will cost the Government around €30m.

The Government and employers had hoped they could implement a time-lag before the rights would kick in, but unions did not want the grace period implemented.

Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton said last week that he was disappointed that agreement was not reached on a derogation from the directive.

(A derogation is a provision in an EU legislative measure which allows for all or part of the legal measure to be applied differently, or not at all, to individuals, groups or organisations.)

President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Eugene McGlone said it was only right for all workers to be treated equally.

"There's nothing wrong with paying people the appropriate rate of pay from day one," he said.