In an APSCo/APSCo OutSource statement, the two organisations say they have written to Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), as well as Minister Paul Scully MP, Grant Shapps MP and DLME Margaret Beels, calling for a consultation with recruitment sector leaders before the agency workers’ legislation is amended.

“It is our view that the voice of the recruitment sector needs to be heard in this matter and discussions are needed around how such a proposal would stand in the context of international labour standards,” commented Tania Bowers, global public policy director at APSCo. 

Bowers noted that the current government had been elected on a manifesto of improving worker rights via implementation of the recommendations of 2017’s Taylor Review.

Bowers went on to say: “Our members have been surprised by the unexpected move to amend the agency legislation. Our members are also keen to have sight of more detail regarding the reference to agency workers and ‘transferable skills’ to replace striking workers.

“Given the significance of the proposed legislation, we have brought the concerns of our members to the government and will continue to work with other recruitment leaders who are calling for a review of these changes before they are implemented,” Bowers said. 

“As we’ve previously stated, we are sceptical about the impact of removing the prohibition on agency workers replacing strikers, or those workers moved to replace strikers.”

• Comment below on this story. Or let us know what you think by emailing us at [email protected] or tweet us to tell us your thoughts or share this story with a friend.