Temp law 'scares firms'

7:03pm Wednesday 5th March 2008

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COMPANIES could be "frightened away" from employing temporary workers if a bill from backbench MPs becomes law, according to one employment agency boss.

The Agency and Temporary Workers Bill proposes equal rights for full-time and agency temps.

It passed its second reading in Parliament in February and is going into committee stage.

Bolton South-east Labour MP Brian Iddon has thrown his weight behind the bill because he believes workers are being exploited by some agencies and firms.

However, Christine Green, of Bolton's C&H Agency, disagrees.

She said: "In my view, a temp is a temp. They are often there for a short term job over Christmas or for a new project.

"This will frighten companies away if temporary workers get all the same rights as full time staff. If staff are good, they will probably be taken on anyway.

"Some of our workers don't want full time jobs, they love the flexibility of being with an agency and like having different jobs."

But Mr Iddon added that an agency practice of charging transfer fees of up to £1,000 was putting off employers from offering full time work.

Ms Green said: "Once my temporary workers have done 12 weeks they can go free of charge. Three months is more than enough.

"I want my employees to get a full time job. I don't want to lose money but I know they will recommend us to someone else."

However Dr Iddon supports the new Bill.

He said: "Agency workers don't get holiday pay and they don't get the same perks as full time workers.

"Many want to work full time but employers won't take them on."

He said he had raised the issue with employer organisations in Parliament and blamed unscrupulous agencies who treated temporary workers badly.

He said: "I have tackled employer organisations such as the Institute of Directors and the CBI.

"I told them it's about time they policed the agencies that are giving a bad name to all the others."