Recruitment bodies urge UK government to safeguard temp agency work

Recruitment leaders have come together to urge the government to protect the UK’s temporary agency work and professional contracting sector amid potential legislative and regulatory changes.

October 09, 2024
Back

The recruitment industry bodies include the Association of Labour Providers (ALP), Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), and The Employment Agents Movement (TEAM).

In a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds, the organisations underscored the critical importance of temporary agency work to the UK economy. Supporting around one million workers daily, the sector enables the flexibility and adaptability necessary to maintain a dynamic workforce, it said.

The letter highlights key benefits that temporary agency work offers to both workers and businesses: pathways to employment, economic resilience, work-life balance and flexibility, and business adaptability.

The organisations caution that overly restrictive regulations could destabilise the sector, leading to a loss of flexibility, increased unemployment, and slower economic growth. They are calling for the government to:

  • Recognise and Protect the Sector: Acknowledge the unique role of temporary agency work in future legislation.
  • Collaborate with Experts: Engage with industry leaders to ensure regulatory changes are balanced and preserve the flexibility that benefits both workers and businesses.
  • Promote the Sector’s Benefits: Raise awareness of temporary agency work as a legitimate and valuable form of employment.
  • Focus on Worker Protection: Prioritise the protection of vulnerable workers while avoiding complex regulations that could hinder business growth.
  • Enforce Existing Regulations: Strengthen enforcement of current regulations to protect workers and support responsible businesses.

“Not all zero-hours contracts are exploitative, and not all flexibility is one-sided,” the letter stated. “Temporary agency work plays a crucial role in fostering a modern, adaptable workforce and is integral to the continued success of the UK economy.”

Original Article: staffingindustry

Empowering flexibility, driving growth – the essential workforce for a dynamic economy– contact our HR & digital recruitment specialist Gareth Allison on 02920 620702

Other articles
April 05, 2023

Employers are adapting the health and wellbeing support they offer to employees in light of new remote and hybrid working patterns, according to new research from GRiD, the industry body for the group risk sector. A third (30%) of organisations where some or all staff now work remotely or in a hybrid model have made it…

February 22, 2023

Young people want employers to do better when it comes to diversity and inclusion, starting with making job adverts transparent and inclusive. In a new Employment Accessibility Report by Access Generation CIC, young people laid bare their perceptions and expectations of applying for jobs online. The research, which looked at over 570 employers’ websites and…

Let's talk. Get in touch with us today!

Ask a question
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Risus morbi magna non, vitae placerat molestie viverra molestie odio.

    Thank you, the team will be in touch shortly