• Acas has published a new guide on agency workers after finding one in four calls from agency workers to its helpline revealed they are not being paid correctly.

Workers raised the issue of delays to their wage payments from agencies, of not being paid at all, or not being paid correctly.

The new agency workers guidance aims to help all those involved in this working relationship to understand the rights and responsibilities of agency workers or those using the services of an employment agency.

Tips for agency workers include:

1. Agency workers are entitled to be paid even if the agency has not received a payment from the employer.
2. Make sure you know your employment status as this is essential to understand your rights. Whether you are a worker, an employee or self-employed, affects your pay, holidays and other entitlements.
3. Remember that after a 12-week qualifying period, in most situations an agency worker must receive the same pay as those directly employed.

• International recruiter Harvey Nash Recruitment Solutions has launched the Future Skills Programme. Partnering with professional development experts Corndel, the programme will make use of the UK government’s Apprenticeship Levy scheme to train a new generation of software engineers by bringing high potential talent from outside the sector, and building their skills through the training and development programme.

• Life sciences staffing specialist ProClinical has opened an office in Shanghai, led by client services director Tom Tan. ProClinical has set up in the heart of China’s biggest life science hub to offer its staffing solutions to innovative start-ups looking to expand their workforce with highly-skilled professionals.

• Medical recruiter Remedium Partners has launched Red Carpet by Remedium – a relocation, accommodation and information service. The service, launched in partnership with platform provider Benivo, offers doctors help with rental and property sourcing across the UK, finance arrangements, local property market insights, and education and schooling support for families.