The agency workers’ directive is not a ‘done deal’, according to Adrian Marlowe, chair of the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC).

Marlowe says: “It is not in the interests of the recruitment and employment industry to simply accept that the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are a done deal. The political environment now is likely to be much more open to review and the industry should press for change immediately.

“There are 18 months for change to take place, and there is plenty of time to take stock and ascertain what is or is not possible.

“One thing I have learned over the years is that the work is not done until the bacon is brought in, and in the case of the AWR the work definitely is not done. The time to crack the eggs is not yet upon us.”