From 1st October, agency workers have the following rights if thay have been employed for 12 weeks. The regulations contain anti-avoidance measures so that a worker cant be sacked after 11 weeks and re-employed two weeks later. Holidays and maternity leave dont break the qualifying period either

• Pay, including holiday and overtime pay, as well as performance bonuses.
• Length of working day.
• Length of night work
• Rest breaks
• Rest periods
• Annual leave
• Statutory sick pay
• The right to know about vacancies
• Use of canteen
• Access to free training programmes

However, agency workers are not entitled to pension, occupational sick pay and certain bonus schemes.

Extracted from ‘Commercial Motor’