More guidance needed ahead of AWD, says REC

Contractors need guidance on establishing themselves as recognised self-employed workers ahead of the implementation of the agency workers directive (AWD).

This is the view of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which has drawn up a shortlist of issues that it says need clarification from the government before the EU-wide legislation is put in place.

Under the AWD, temporary workers are given the same rights as permanent employees regarding pay and conditions once they have been in a job for 12 weeks, but many contractors do not want to be included in the measures.

Analysts for the sector have said that while the legislation may benefit vulnerable temporary staff, it is unlikely to assist highly-paid contractors.

Consequently, the REC said that practical guidance on contractors establishing themselves as self-employed is required.

"Getting this right will lift some of the fog over how equal treatment will work in practice," said the REC's director of external relations Tom Hadley.

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