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British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
http://www.x404.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=14870		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:54 am ]
Post subject:  British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... rules.html

Quote:
Open Europe, a think tank, said the Agency Workers’ Directive (AWD) could put 28,000 young workers’ contracts at risk by making them too expensive to keep on. Such a loss would wipe out more than half the 50,000 new jobs the Coalition has promised to create for young people every year.
The latest warning about the directive will add to pressure on ministers over the controversial rules, which Whitehall officials calculate will cost British businesses £1.8billion a year.
Under the directive, which takes effect from tomorrow, an agency worker will be entitled to the same terms and conditions as a permanent employee after 12 weeks of work.
There are about 1.6million temporary workers in Britain. Critics of the new rules fear many employers cannot afford to give their agency staff enhanced rights to paid holidays and bonuses.

This law is good. If companies can get away with downgrading staff with short term contracts staff that they do not have to pay sickness or holiday money then it will protect the full time staff who could face being cut to part time because they lose other benefits like holiday pay etc.
Author:  Linux_User [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
I read this as "Boo hoo, we can't exploit people on temporary contracts any more! No fair!".

I can conceive of no valid reasons why temporary staff should not be afforded employment rights, especially since companies have a habit of re-issuing temporary contracts on a rolling basis.
Author:  dogbert10 [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
It should be the responsibility of the agency to cover these costs - after all, they take a fair slice of the money each of their staff earns.
Author:  cloaked_wolf [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 1:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
I know feck all about the current situation or legislation but IMO, all agency workers should get pro rata sick leave and annual leave. So if they would ordinarily get 28 days' annual leave in a twelve month job, they should be entitled to 7 days off in a three month job.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
Linux_User wrote:
I read this as "Boo hoo, we can't exploit people on temporary contracts any more! No fair!".

I can conceive of no valid reasons why temporary staff should not be afforded employment rights, especially since companies have a habit of re-issuing temporary contracts on a rolling basis.

This would only really affect those companies that are little more than cowboys. This is good. Knowing this government they would try and scale this back, and with most of the jobs being created being part time only this would mean that they might as well opt for full time employees rather than a swathe of part timers.
Author:  JJW009 [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
Is there a definition of "temporary"?

If someone has worked the same job for years, can they still be "temporary" just because the contract says so? If so, then that is what needs to change. 12 weeks doesn't sound like very long to me, but a limit should be set.
Author:  adidan [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
JJW009 wrote:
If someone has worked the same job for years, can they still be "temporary" just because the contract says so? If so, then that is what needs to change. 12 weeks doesn't sound like very long to me, but a limit should be set.

I worked somewhere through an agency for over 2 years but was only ever classed as temporary. It wasn't until I got a job direct with the company that I was full time.
Author:  ProfessorF [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
Linux_User wrote:
I read this as "Boo hoo, we can't exploit people on temporary contracts any more! No fair!".

I can conceive of no valid reasons why temporary staff should not be afforded employment rights, especially since companies have a habit of re-issuing temporary contracts on a rolling basis.


When I was working in TV, it was common practice for everyone to be on a rolling one week contract. Effectively one contract ended after a week, the new started right after, thereby negating any entitlements to anything beyond your basic wage.
Author:  adidan [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 6:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
ProfessorF wrote:
When I was working in TV, it was common practice for everyone to be on a rolling one week contract. Effectively one contract ended after a week, the new started right after, thereby negating any entitlements to anything beyond your basic wage.

Yup, temporary workers are shafted on sick leave and holiday pay compared to full time counterparts.
Author:  koli [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
But isn't working on temp contracts a personal choice of those who do it? If you want "permanent job" benefits get a "permanent job", no?
Author:  jonbwfc [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
kola wrote:
If you want "permanent job" benefits get a "permanent job", no?

Easier said than done in some lines of work.
Author:  adidan [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
koli wrote:
But isn't working on temp contracts a personal choice of those who do it? If you want "permanent job" benefits get a "permanent job", no?

I took mine at the time as that was the only job being offered at the company, I only got offered direct employment when they wanted to retain experienced staff. So no, it's not always a personal choice.
Author:  Amnesia10 [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
ProfessorF wrote:
Linux_User wrote:
I read this as "Boo hoo, we can't exploit people on temporary contracts any more! No fair!".

I can conceive of no valid reasons why temporary staff should not be afforded employment rights, especially since companies have a habit of re-issuing temporary contracts on a rolling basis.


When I was working in TV, it was common practice for everyone to be on a rolling one week contract. Effectively one contract ended after a week, the new started right after, thereby negating any entitlements to anything beyond your basic wage.

Unless you are Jonathan Ross. :lol:
Author:  koli [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
adidan wrote:
I took mine at the time as that was the only job being offered at the company

Have they put a gun to your head and said you gotta take it? Or there wasn't any other company that would want your services?

This is how I see it:
Having a job isn't a God given right. It is a privilege!
So if you are not happy with the one you have (or one you are being offered), go and find a better one. If you can't find a better it means that the one you have (or the one you are being offered) is what you deserve, or maybe it is even too good for you so just keep quiet and be happy with what you have (or you are being offered). Best jobs for best people. If you can't get it you are not good enough and you should drop your price.

I know it sounds harsh but why should a company pay more that it has to for your services? Would you work for less money if you company was in trouble (and you had a choice to go elsewhere)? I really doubt it. So why should company show you the same courtesy? The price of labour is given by a demand and supply, people tend to forget that...

Sometimes I feel like I am living in France...
Author:  adidan [ Fri Sep 30, 2011 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: British workers to lose jobs under new EU rules
koli wrote:
adidan wrote:
I took mine at the time as that was the only job being offered at the company

Have they put a gun to your head and said you gotta take it? Or there wasn't any other company that would want your services?

I needed a job, there weren't any others available at the time. I went up to Edinburgh on the Thursday and got a job and a house by Sunday and started work on the Monday.

This was quite some time ago BTW and I was using it as an example, nothing more.

koli wrote:
go and find a better one.

It's not that easy for many people, especially in the current climate. Fortunately I'm not in that position anymore and haven't been for many years.

koli wrote:
Sometimes I feel like I am living in France...

Reality would be a start mate, some people's reality is very different to yours and mine.
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