‘Chaos’ over agency worker directive

THE Government’s failure to legislate for the introduction of an EU directive which requires pay parity between agency and permanent workers from next Monday has created chaos, according to employers, recruitment agencies and unions.

The Government last night wrote to employers’ bodies to tell them that as of December 5, the country’s 35,000 agency workers must get the same basic pay; piece rates; and shift, overtime, unsociable hours and Sunday premiums as would apply to full-time employees.

“Hirers and agencies should make the appropriate arrangements to ensure that the principles of equal treatment as indicated above are put in place from December 5 for all temporary agency workers, including those who are assigned on or after December 5,” employers were told.