NEWS IN BRIEF

The Government announced recently that it has launched a campaign to help agency workers find out their rights and also help employers to be aware of their responsibilities. The campaign was set up as a result of recommendations from the Vulnerable Workers Enforcement Forum.

Apart from a poster campaign (in public places, online and in local press), encouraging workers to be aware of their rights, the Government has said it will write to over 13,000 employment agencies to outline how they can make sure they are complying with the law.

This will complement the work of the Employment Agency Standards inspectorate (which investigates agencies), which recently doubled in size and extended its investigative powers.

Information on agency worker’s rights can be accessed via DirectGov, (www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_174777).

Any workers who think they are not getting a fair deal should contact the Employment Agency Standards inspectorate on 0845 955 5105.