The European Agency Workers Directive (AWD) could be rewritten to prevent jobseekers being exploited in Eastern European countries, says the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC).

Jobseekers in countries such as Poland (pictured) often have to pay unscrupulous agencies to find them work, a practice which is illegal in many other countries, including the UK.

The REC claims a possible rethink of the currently shelved directive by European politicians could present an opportunity to bring the countries into line (Recruiter, 5 October).

“This could be put in the directive and it would make no difference to us as it is illegal in this country anyway,” said REC director of external relations Tom Hadley.

The measures could be used as a bargaining chip in any future negotiations about the directive.

A group of European governments, including the UK’s, have blocked the directive, which calls for equal pay and conditions for temps.