The Labour party has today published draft legislation which aims to protect the rights of workers employed by agencies while renewing its call on the Government to re-think its position on the matter.
Announcing details of the Agency Workers Bill, Labour's Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesman, Willie Penrose said there was growing concern over what he called the Government's "refusal" to provide adequate protection for the rights of workers from Ireland and abroad who are employed by agencies.
The draft legislation seeks to ensure equal pay, working time, holiday and maternity rights for agency workers.
Mr Penrose said the party's move to publish the Bill followed a Government decision last week to vote down a Labour party private members'motion calling for the introduction of such legislation and to change its stance in relation to the EU directive on temporary agency workers.
The EU directive seeks to establish the principle of non-discrimination and equality of working conditions and pay with comparable staff for temporary agency workers.
The directive was approved by the European parliament in November 2002, but has been blocked by a small number of member states, including Ireland.
Describing the Government's stance as "shameful", Mr Penrose said Ireland was "lagging behind" in terms of its duties to agency workers.
"There is no excuse for the Minister or the Government continuing to block this key directive, unless they want to continue to turn a blind eye to the exploitation of vulnerable workers in this country," he said.
Agency workers are a vulnerable employment group which can be subject to discrimination in the workplace, enduring poorer pay and denial of sick pay, holiday pay and even overtime pay due to the temporary nature of their working conditions.
"These workers are often used by employers as a means of avoiding many of their responsibilities," Mr Penrose said.
Calling on the Government to protect, in law, temporary agency workers, Mr Penrose added: "Most member states' laws are based on the 'non-discrimination principle', which means that agency workers must receive the same terms and conditions as comparable permanent employees in the user enterprise."