Union calls for protection for agency workers

THE Government has been warned the trade union movement will not enter talks on ‘flexicurity’ arrangements in industry here unless the Government puts in place adequate protections for vulnerable agency workers.

‘Flexicurity’ has been touted as the best way to bring about growth of industry and jobs by bringing together a low level of protection for workers against dismissal with high unemployment benefits and a labour market policy based on a right for the unemployed to retraining.

It is a method being considered by a host of European countries, including Ireland.