Rumours surround Agency Workers Regulations

As the countdown continues until the legislation goes live in Blighty, Jon Wilcox takes a look over what the implementation of the AWR means.

In less than three weeks’ time, the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) are scheduled to come into force, ending nearly a decade of attrition between Westminster and Brussels over the implementation of the 2008 EU Temporary and Agency Work Directive.

Despite the impending deadline, The Daily Telegraph recently suggested the Prime Minister is considering taking away some aspects of the legislation laid down by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Whitehall believes the legislation will cost around £1.5bn annually to implement.

Regardless of whether the law will come into force as outlined by BIS, or David Cameron’s alleged desire to remove some of the provisions will prevail, there are some who regard it as one of the biggest changes to employment law this year.

According to a recent article on HR Zone from Thomas Bourne and Karen Plumbley-Jones of Bond Pearce LLP, the regulations will provide the estimated 1.3m temporary workers in the UK with basic working and employment conditions that are no less favourable than those of permanent employees – a move they claim will have a big impact on employers.

Further reading

Agency Workers Regulations: BIS guidance

Agency Workers Regulations - AccountingWEB coverage

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