Recruiters lobby MPs on controversial bill

6-Feb-2008

The 391 recruiters responding to the REC's call to show their local MPs 'the true face of recruitment' are getting a mixed response.

A Private Member's Bill being introduced by Andrew Miller, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, is due to have its second reading on 22 February. If passed, the bill, which is heavily supported by the unions, would give temporary and agency workers many of the same rights as permanent employees.

Unions claim temporary and agency workers are victimised by employers and agencies, "and that we're a bunch of ne'er-do-wells manipulating these poor workers with whips and chains", said Stephen Hockley, partner at real estate recruitment firm Sales Link Services.

However, Hockley and his wife Carol hosted Labour MP Tony McNulty of Harrow East at their London Edgware office on 25 January when the MP accepted an invitation to "pop along for a cup of coffee".

While McNulty did not commit to supporting the recruitment industry's views when it is time for a vote, Hockley told Recruiter that he felt the MP listened. "I felt more positive about it than I expected. He seemed quite open-minded and spoke quite reasonably," Hockley said.

Hockley said the MP and he agreed that existing legislation should meet the needs of temporary and agency workers, "but the problem is policing it. It's the cost of policing it".

Birmingham recruiter Anna Calahane of Forklift Recruitment & Training was less satisfied with her response from Clare Short, Independent MP for Birmingham Ladywood.

Short wrote that she was "inclined to support" the bill. Calahane said she was disappointed and told Recruiter that she felt MPs "didn't pay much attention" to their constituents' concerns.

Janette Withey, managing director of London recruiter Quay People, was still waiting on 31 January for a response from Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour MP for Poplar and Canning Town.

Withey pointed out that temporary work creates a route into work for disadvantaged members of the community, many of whom Quay works with through the local council.

"I would like to think that he takes all of this on board," said Withey.

Legal observers predict significant changes within the industry should the bill go ahead. Gareth Kervin of law firm Kingsley Napier describes the changes as "potentially dramatic".

"The changes will grant rights that will increase financial risk. The question will be who will take that risk on — the agency or the business or the individual worker," Kervin told Recruiter.