Irish, UK block EU workers plan

The Government teamed up with the UK yesterday to block a draft EU law that would give temporary workers the same pay and conditions as full-time staff.

However, several EU member states that support the proposed legislation vowed yesterday to re-table the temporary agency workers directive next year to try to get it adopted.

"I don't think that technically we can reach formal political agreement here," said Portuguese minister for labour José Antonio Vieira da Silva, who chaired the talks at the council of ministers in Brussels. "But the positions expressed by member states do make up the foundations of an agreement which will not be called into question."

The draft temporary agency workers directive would entitle agency workers to the same pay and conditions as full-time staff after a grace period of up to six weeks.

Trade unions say it is necessary to stop employers unfairly using temporary contracts as way to pay people less money for doing the same work as full-time staff.

It would also give temporary workers the right to pensions, holidays and other benefits.

Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa said the Government's actions were self-defeating.

"How can the trade union movement now tell people in Ireland that Europe is defending their interests and their rights?" asked Mr De Rossa, who added that the decision did not augur well for the Republic's proposed EU referendum next year.

But Minister of State for Labour Affairs Billy Kelleher said the proposed law threatened to undermine the Republic's competitiveness because some other EU states would not have to offer workers all rights because they had collective bargaining agreements.

"We want all member states to be treated equally. We have to protect our competitiveness," said Mr Kelleher, who denied that the Government had come to Brussels with the intention of blocking the legislation on temporary workers' rights.

EU diplomats said the Republic and the UK may not have created a coalition of states with enough votes within the council of ministers to block the proposal.

But the Portuguese presidency of the EU refused to call a vote in order not to isolate the UK and the Republic, both of which face a difficult task in ratifying the EU Reform Treaty next year.