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Equal treatment for agency workers

Agency workers in the UK are set to receive equal treatment after 12 weeks’ employment.

Under proposals agreed between the Government and trade unions in May, agency workers will be given equal pay and holiday entitlements after 12 weeks in a job.

However, the agreement will not cover sick pay or pension payments while temporary staff will have to work the same length of time as full-time workers to enjoy paid maternity leave.

The Government plans to pass the equal treatment legislation this autumn but this depends on a similar EU directive being passed before then.

EU members are currently debating legislation on the issue and a number of key issues remain undecided. Only when Brussels passes a directive will the UK government be able to put forward "implementing" legislation of its own.