The recruitment industry’s trade body is to mount a fresh campaign to fight off the threat of the European Agency Workers Directive, which calls for equal pay for temps.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) fears the directive, which was shelved earlier this year, could yet resurface.

In the second half of next year, the Netherlands will have the presidency of the European Commission and could try to push through the directive, which it has supported in the past.

An REC spokesman said: “The main objective is to ensure that the industry’s voice remains heard in the run up to the Dutch presidency in the second half of the year, when it is possible the directive will be higher on the agenda.”

Many in recruitment believe that the directive would make it much more expensive to hire temps and could even put recruitment firms out of business.

The REC and CIETT, which is a conglomerate of various recruitment bodies throughout Europe, argue that the directive will also hamper job creation.

Ireland currently has control of the presidency and will be replaced by Italy in the new year – but neither of these countries are expected to place the directive high on their agendas.

The REC will carry on lobbying the UK government to ensure that it continues to support the stance of the UK recruitment industry.

The REC spokesman added: “The European Commission will change next year and we will be ensuring our voice is heard when deliberations take place on who will take the roles. We will ensure the countries entering the EU understand our arguments.”