Gordon Brown is employee of the week...

Big shot Gordon Brown has become the hero of temp-agency workers everywhere after signalling the end to a six year battle to provide them with the same rights as full-time workers. The move has been described by one of Brown's spokespeople as reflecting "the right balance between fairness and flexibility".

The agreement will mean that, after 12 weeks on the same job, temp staff will be given the same legal rights as full-time workers. Hopefully, this will put an end to the myriad companies that employee workers via agencies so that they don't have to bother worrying about the same levels of insurance, promotion or the other perquisites that workers should by all rights be entitled to. Those bastards.

Small businesses are reported to be pissed at the move, as it is expected they will have to spend more dosh on employee wages. Luckily, the Department for Business has pointed out that the agreement offers room for negotiations as long as they "respect the overall protection of agency workers". This phrase could be seen as an important loophole which will most likely allow companies to still get one up on their workers if need be. Technically, this could mean anything from wrapping them in bubble-wrap to helping them brush-up on the Green Cross Code.

The news is also a welcome relief for the PM as it is expected that it will regain him favour/popularity with a number of bankbenchers who have been backing a private members bill protecting agency workers, sponsored by Andrew Miller, MP for Ellesmere Port. It's about time that Brown did something that was seen to be positive for a change. Perhaps now he'll win the next election (lol*).

Photo:Flickr

*Use of Lol is ironic

Written by Oli Anderson on 21 May 2008 11:40 AM. Permalink