A number of IT agencies have refused to sign contracts issued by Resource Solutions for supplying contractors unless ‘oppressive conditions’ in those contracts are changed.

Resource Solutions, a division of the Robert Walters group, has failed to make sufficient changes to its terms and conditions (see ‘Walters in contracts row’).

Resource Solutions manages the preferred supplier list (PSL) for a large blue-chip client with more than 800 IT contractors. ‘Resource Solutions is trying to bypass any liability or responsibility for contractors - this would put individual agencies under impossible pressure,’ one PSL member said.

Agencies have complained about clauses that would make them fully liable for contractors’ actions. Following the refusal of many to sign the original contracts, Resource Solutions sent new contracts agreeing to share liability in cases of unfair dismissal.

‘Agencies are still liable in cases of sexual or racial discrimination, which is a much greater risk,’ said the PSL member. ‘There’s no limit to the amount of damages that can be awarded - how can an agency agree to expose itself to an amount it has no way of calculating?

‘Any agency that agrees to these terms will do so only out of naivety or out of desperation because of current market conditions.’

Resource Solutions has asked agencies not to discuss this issue with third parties. Philippa Brooks, director of marketing at Robert Walters, said the matter was ‘not for public discussion’ and refused to comment.