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 CIPD PRESS RELEASE 10 June 2008
CIPD supports compromise deal on agency workers and the
working time 'opt-out'
The CIPD has backed the compromise agreement achieved
by ministers in Europe securing the UK's opt-out from
the Working Time Regulations, while giving agency staff
equal rights with permanent employees after 12 weeks.
Ben Willmott, CIPD Employee Relations Adviser, said:
"This agreement does appear to protect the flexibility
of the UK's labour market. While the CIPD would have
preferred a longer time period before agency staff
qualify for the same rights as permanent staff, three
months is better than it might have been, considering
equal rights from day one was also on the table. In
addition this deal seems to have secured the UK's
opt-out from the Working Time Regulations giving people
the freedom to work longer than 48 hours a week if they
choose to do so.
"The CIPD opposes long hours working but believes
that reduced hours and improved work-life balance is
best achieved through changes in work organisation
and through progressive people management rather than
a statutory restriction on maximum working hours.
"The overall fall in working hours and in long hours
working since 2000 shows that the current legislative
framework on working hours is an appropriate one.
"The need for organisations to attract and retain
talent in an increasingly tight and diverse labour
market will increasingly encourage employers to
provide improved work-life balance and reduce long
hours working."
Notes to editors:
* The CIPD surveyed employer attitudes to an extension
of agency workers' rights in the March edition of the
CIPD/KPMG Labour Market Outlook report, available at
http://www.cipd.co.uk/labourmarketoutlook
* The CIPD 2004 report, Working Time Regulations:
Calling Time In Working Time is available at:
http://www.cipd.co.uk/subjects/wrkgtime/wrktmreg/_wtrcalwrktm.htm
It found that 70% of long hours workers stated that
it was partly or totally their choice to work in
excess of 48 hours, 30% claimed however that there
was an element of compulsion. Two-thirds of people
working more than 48 hours a week don't want to see
the end of the opt-out
* The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
(CIPD) has over 130,000 members and is the leading
professional institute for those involved in the
management and development of people.
CIPD press enquiries:
Robert Blevin / Gregor Ridley / Christian Zarro
CIPD Press Office
151 The Broadway, London SW19 1JQ
020 8612 6400
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