The TUC has launched a campaign to help agency employees who "are paid less for doing the same job".

The 'One-In-Five' initiative, so-called because of the number of vulnerable workers in the UK, was launched by TUC general secretary Brendan Barber at a press conference in Brighton on the eve of the TUC's annual congress.

"Today we put a relentless focus on the significant minority who face insecurity, poverty pay and rank bad treatment," said Barber.

Barber said he wanted the government to close loopholes in employment law, particularly relating to agency workers.

"[There are] people working through agencies who can be paid far less than the permanent staff doing the same job," he claimed.

Barber promised that the unions would be stepping up and co-ordinating their work on behalf of agency workers, and called on employers to be vigilant when they are recruiting staff from agencies.

"Of course the majority of UK bosses are not guilty of the kind of rank exploitation we describe today — and we recognise that there are responsible employers in the agency and lower-paid sectors too.

"But are you sure that you can say the same about everyone in your supply chain? Or the jobs you have outsourced?

"Next time the board meets to sign off its Corporate Social Responsibility report, directors should ask whether it covers those who serve their lunch and polish the table on which it's signed, as well as their core staff."

Elsewhere, the TUC has come under fire from Pertemps for its stance on temps.

The TUC wants temps to enjoy the same rights as permanent staff after a period of only six weeks employment, but Pertemps operations director Jan Para said: "Agency workers offer companies the flexibility they need to meet extra demand. A qualifying period of 12 months is essential if we are to safeguard jobs."

Para was speaking as the CBI/Pertemps Employment Trends Survey was released on 11 September.