Recruitment agencies and the trade unions could be on the verge of an informal charter to promote ethical standards and develop a more harmonious working relationship.

The traditionally acrimonious face-off between agencies and the unions could be about to end after both sides agreed to work together more closely following a meeting in the North-West.

The meeting was initiated by recruiter Elaine Rooking, managing director at Preston-based firm The Staff Agency, who was angered over TUC comments about the treatment of temporary workers by staffing firms in the area (Recruiter, 2 November.

“I was so upset by the report that I felt I had to respond in some way. On so many occasions all the good, ethical practice we advocate is ruined by a rogue recruitment agency,” she said.

“I think the TUC views agencies as a necessary evil because the bad recruiters damage our reputation so much.”

However, after a meeting with TUC regional secretary Alan Manning, it became clear that there was plenty of common ground and greater scope for working more closely in the future.

“We agreed on most things, namely that the gangmasters legislation was well overdue and we both desperately want to raise standards in the working environment,” said Rooking.

The promotion of better ethical and professional standards in the industry was one of the key talking points and the idea of some kind of charter that agencies could sign up to was also floated.

“It was a very useful meeting. The TUC wants to work with good agencies to promote best practice and protect workers from the poor treatment we have documented,” said Manning.

Agencies and the unions have clashed in the past, especially around the treatment of temporary workers and over the controversial Agency Workers Directive - which is still unresolved.