Conservatives plan to delay AWD

Posted by Jim Ottewill

The Conservative Party has announced plans to delay the introduction of the Agency Workers Directive (AWD) if they win in the forthcoming general election.

According to the Tories, the legislation will not be rushed through as it could cost British businesses £40 billion during the next ten years.

The AWD is aimed at providing freelance contractor and consultants with the same rights as permanent staff members.

However, many freelancer groups have been critical of the law which could lead to self-employed contractors becoming less attractive to would-be employers.

Adrian Marlowe, the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) chairman, said: "The constant call for more rights for 'exploited' agency workers would better stand up if some real compelling evidence of widespread current exploitation could be established.

"In the absence of that evidence a call for an immediate implementation of the AWD leaves one wondering who the unions are representing, particularly if the result is at the expense of loss of employment by many others."

A three-year timescale has been introduced by the EU for the implementation of the law.