Following a meeting with the department for business, enterprise and regulatory reform (BERR) on Friday, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is to push for the latest possible implementation of the agency workers directive.

The directive, which entitles temporary workers to the same pay and working time conditions as permanent staff, was published last Friday and has until 5 December 2011 to be implemented into UK law.

The directive allows the UK to derogate from the principle of equal treatment between agency and permanent workers for 12 weeks, following a deal between unions, the CBI and government.

In August, the REC set up the the Agency Work Commission, made up of recruiters, users of agency labour, lawyers and the CIPD, to discuss the key issues including:

•        What parts of a remuneration package will be considered to be pay?

•         How the 12 weeks will be measured?

•         Who is liable for defining equal treatment?

•         Whether limited company contractors are covered by the provisions?

The Commission will report its findings in the new year.