Private members bill support 'urged' by TUC

The government has been called upon by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to lend support to a private members bill going before parliament today (October 19th).

According to reports by Personnel Today, the TUC is calling upon the government to support the bill on the basis that it would provide agency staff with the same employment rights as those working directly for a firm.

A private members bill is a legislative proposal put forward by a backbench MP.

"There is nothing wrong with legitimate recruitment agencies providing short-term work for those with short-term availability. But rogue agencies and dodgy practices are now tarnishing the whole sector," said Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC.

Any levelling in the terms and conditions of employment between directly-employed staff and their agency counterparts would benefit the latter in a number of ways, possibly in relation to things such as rights in relation to overtime and holiday.