Ann Swain, chief executive of IT recruitment body ATSco, has hit out at the government over increased legislation surrounding temporary workers.

Speaking at Resource, the quarterly industry forum organised by LSM, Swain argued the increased legislation to ‘protect’ workers is unjustified, damaging labour flexibility and the agencies that promote it.

Swain also said that legislation to increase non-wage benefits for workers damages employers’ bottom line and reduces their ability to reward workers financially.

Swain’s concerns were echoed by Patience Wheatcroft, City editor of The Times, who was concerned about the effect of legislation coming from Europe. In trying to achieve parity with other member states, the UK could be forced to tighten regulation while others lighten their own statute books, she warned.

Other panellists at the event included the Financial Times’ Richard Donkin, Lord Haskin of the Better Regulation Taskforce and Tory MP Philip Hammond.

The other key issue brought up was the image of recruitment. All the panellists were in agreement that the industry could do more to promote itself.