New Agency Workers Regulations Effective October 2012

The new Agency Workers Regulations have been introduced from 1 October 2012 in accordance with EU Directives. The new regulations provide agency workers with the same rights to pay and most benefits as permanent staff if they are employed for a period of more than 12 weeks.

Contractors and other agency workers are advised to take note of the new regulations to ensure that they receive the appropriate benefits to which they are entitled including holiday pay.

Employers on the other hand are faced with increased costs in respect of employing temp staff. In some industries the demand for agency workers has waned as the cost differential between permanent and temporary employment has reduced.