The European Union’s Agency Workers’ Directive has been quietly simmering away for the past few years. There’ve been countless false starts, revival attempts and blocking moves played out across the great governmental powerhouses of the EU. After renewed pressure from the European Union and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) the legislation has been given a fresh lease of life. When the European Parliament approves the bill it will end 6 years of deadlock on the issue.

Employers and the TUC have been at loggerheads over the issue since it fist came to light. On one side, employers have accused it of potentially, destroying flexibility and cutting jobs. On the other, the TUC are heralding it as a way to prevent the most vulnerable members of society from being exploited.

The aim of the Agency Workers Directive is to help the EU,

become the competitive and most dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustained economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion

The European Parliament are voting on the bill within the next month and clearing the way for the directive to be published by the end of year. The UK government will then have three years to implement the new legislation.

Unions have been campaigning for this measure for years. Unite joint leader Tony Woodley had this to say about the landmark decision:

This is a landmark deal for 1.4 million agency workers currently working in the UK. The Government has listened, acted and paved the way to equal treatment in the workplace

For temporary staff the benefits are obvious but, for smaller firms the new legislation could spell the end. Groups including the British Chamber of Commerce, the Institute of Directors and the Engineering Employers Federation have warned that it’s:

the last thing a small business needs

Businesses will be more reliant on existing members of staff working over time instead of outsourcing more flexible staff. At a time when a company needs to stay on its toes and be as easily adaptable as possible is the Agency Workers Directive a step too far?