Delay on agency workers equal treatment a scandal, says Unite

15th October 2009

Responding to the announcement today (Thursday) from the government that there will be a delay to the full implementation of legislation to ensure equal treatment for agency workers, Tony Woodley, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "This is a scandal. For too long, agency status has been used to undercut wages and casualise workplaces.  There is not a workplace in the land that has escaped the rot of temporary work and two-tier wages.  This divides not just workplaces, but towns and communities and it must end.

"Delaying the implementation of the equal treatment law until 2011 prolongs the mistreatment of nearly a million workers around the country.  This government said it would act to end insecurity at work and we expect it to make good on that commitment, not next year, nor the year after, but today.

"Working people were promised that they would be protected now, and we will not accept any moves to dilute, delay or kick this into the long grass."

ENDS

For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861


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