Following the closure of the consultation period on how the EU Agency Workers Directive can best be implemented in the UK, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) issued its key demands for a workable implementation of the regulations.

The directive would give temporary workers the same benefits as permanent staff after 12 weeks.

The demands include:

• ensuring that the directive is implemented at the latest possible date at the end of 2011;
• that equal treatment be on objective grounds, such as pay scales and company practice detailed in handbooks;
• that equal pay be limited to an hourly wage, that the self employed be exempt from the legislation;
• that equal treatment be earned after 12 continuous weeks in an assignment;
• that the government does not go beyond the rights laid down by the directive.