Companies 'will still use temps' after AWR introduction

Temporary workers will still be in demand even after the new Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) are introduced in October, one sector body has claimed.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has refuted claims made in the Sunday Telegraph by one leading business analyst that the UK's employers will reduce their use of temporary workers when the legislation is brought in on October 1st.

According to Kevin Green, the REC's chief executive, he disagrees with preliminary findings published in the newspaper which indicates that one in five employers is planning to cut their use of temporary workers to avoid the "costly" new legislation.

"This is because for most employers, cost is not the primary reason they take on agency staff. Rather, it is to acquire specialist skills and provide workforce flexibility to respond to peaks in demand," he explained.

He noted that only 13 per cent of temporary workers will be directly affected by AWR anyway, since 50 per cent of temporary staff work less than 12 weeks already.

It comes after Louise McCarthy-Teague, director of Meridian Business Support and an REC council member, recently said successful education of AWR to support the industry will also mitigate the operational and financial risks associated with it.

To keep abreast of changing sales employment legislation sign up to the fortnightly Aaron Wallis newsletter.

Posted by Nikki Barrister

Filed: 09-08-2011