The chairman of the world’s largest recruitment company has called for politicians in Brussels to use the Agency Workers Directive to modernise employment law across the European Union.

Adecco chief John Bowmer [pictured] told Professional Recruiter that he did not believe the directive would be published in itscurrent form.

Bowmer is more optimistic about the outcome of negotiations to make the directive more pro-business than the broadly Eurosceptic UK recruitment industry.

He urged those involved with the process to think about the wider effects of the law. He said: ‘What should be considered is that there is going to be a consultation process – what is finally required is a law that iscommon across the EU.’

He said the directive could give Europe the opportunity to become one of the most dynamic economies in the world and abolish the disparities between labour markets indifferent member states.

He said: ‘Most of the legislation in place is not related to today’s world, but the world of 50 years ago. People are no longer looking for jobs for life.

‘What is needed is a thorough removal of all the restrictions on part-time work and fixed-term work, as well as temporary work, and we need to put in place the protection that is appropriate.’

Bowmer said that the smaller agencies would be most affected by the directive because its equal pay provisions were likely to eat into their profit margins.

‘The smaller companies sell their temps on the basis of price – the lower the amount they pay to the temporary workers, the more they can make from their margins.’

Adecco will be seeking to influence the outcome of the directive negotiations through CIETT, the confederation ofEuropean recruitment trade bodies.

Bowman added: ‘It is difficult to say how we are going to lobby – we need to come to an agreement with CIETT and we are just starting that process.’