Implementation of Agency Worker Regulations will directly reduce unemployment across Europe, according to Eurociett board member, Alain Dehaze, regional head of Northern Europe for Adecco,

In the European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies latest external newsletter, Dehaze says he sees full implementation of AWD as providing a powerful tool to Governments across the EU.

“The effects of the implementation – notably the lifting of restrictions to agency work such as sectoral bans in the construction and public sector, reasons of use that are too limiting, and limitation of services which prevent workers from taking up jobs - will create more work opportunities and therefore allow governments to raise labour participation rates and lead to a direct reduction in unemployment.

“There are wide differences between existing labour market regulations across the EU and to date we have seen governments address the need to implement the AWD in different ways, depending on whether their current regulation already meets the provisions of the AWD or not. In Spain, for example, the provisions laid out in the implementation process have been included in the wider labour market reform; whereas in the Netherlands and Poland the existing labour code only had to be adapted slightly to accommodate the AWD provisions. Others, like Bulgaria, have taken no action at all so far, so will need to review national labour regulation in the light of the AWD Directive . In essence, it is clear that the AWD implementation provides governments with the opportunity to lift the unjustified restrictions that the agency work industry still faces, and to apply the equal treatment principle with the flexibility provided through agreements between social partners.