The battle to include agency staff in the proposed EU services directive is far from over, says the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

Speaking to Recruiter, the REC insisted that it can still influence the decision on behalf of UK recruiters.

The overall aim of the directive is to liberalise the provision of services across European borders and to make it easier to establish a business in other EU countries.

In February, the European Parliament voted to exclude agency work from the directive. Some governments fear “social dumping” and lower standards.

“The dossier passes back to the European Commission, which is where all lobbying activities must now be focused,” said the REC.

The REC formed part of a Euro-CIETT (the European representative body for the industry) delegation that met with Martin Power and Peter Kerstens, senior members of the Internal Market Commissioner's Cabinet.

The REC argues that previous EU legislation - the Posting of Workers Directive - would ensure that workers benefit from the minimum protection in force in the country to which they are posted.