New Rights for Agency Staff

The Agency Workers Regulations 2011 comes into force on 1 October 2011. The act will give temporary agency workers unprecedented new rights.

From day 1 of an assignment an agency worker will be entitled to access the same facilities (e.g. canteen, childcare, parking, etc.) and information on job vacancies as permanent employees.

Once an agency worker completes 12 weeks in the same position they are entitled to the same basic employment and working conditions (pay, annual leave, etc.) as if they had been employed directly by the company.

Note: The legislation is not retrospective, for agency workers on existing assignments the 12 week qualifying period will commence on 1 October 2011.

Click here for the Government pdf guide.