The Temporary Agency Work Directive 2008/104/EC is an EU Directive agreed in November 2008 which seeks to guarantee those working through employment agencies equal pay and conditions with employees in the same business who do the same work.[1] It is the third piece of legislation in the European Union's employment law package to protect atypical working (the others being for part-time workers and fixed-term workers). Though it was proposed in 2002, the British, German, Danish and Irish governments blocked its enactment until 2008.
The Directive on temporary agency work includes two main principles, which are at the same time at the centre of a balanced approach to regulation on temporary agency work:
Article 4 sets clear limits to prohibitions and restrictions that may be imposed on the use of temporary agency work. These are only justified on grounds related to the protection of temporary agency workers, to ensure that the labour market functions properly and that abuses are prevented. EU Member States are obliged to review prohibitions and restrictions on temporary agency work until and to report to the European Commission.
Article 5 establishes the principle of equal treatment for temporary agency workers. The basic employment and working conditions shall be – for the duration of the assignment at the user company – equal to those of a worker employed directly by that company to occupy the same position. Article 5 allows for derogations from this principle for open-ended contracts providing pay between assignments (Article 5, paragraph 2), to uphold collective labour agreements (Article 5, paragraph 3) or based on agreements of social partners (Article 5, paragraph 4).
Purposeedit
As with several other EU directives in the area of employment and social policy, the political purpose of this directive is to set common minimum standards for temporary agency work in the EU. The political goals this serves is to prevent "unfair competition" between different member states. Common minimum standards are preferred by politicians to prevent a "race to the bottom" where every country tries to deregulate to attract business, and, theoretically, all end up "losing". The political goals are to ensure a higher standard of living and quality of life, consistent with the aims of the Treaty on European Union.[2] Critics contend that the policies increase labour market inefficiencies and ultimately raise unemployment levels and reduce business output, leading to lowered living standards for those not already securely seated in permanent positions in the labour market.
^Full name: Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work, 2008/104/EC
^see, Art.3 TEU and Defrenne v. Sabena (No.2) where the European Court of Justice holds that Europe is not just an economic union, but intended also for social development.
Referencesedit
Articles
N Countouris, 'The Temporary Agency Work Directive: Another Broken Promise?' [2009] 38(3) ILJ 329 doi:10.1093/indlaw/dwp015
E McGaughey, 'Should Agency Workers be Treated Differently?' (2010) SSRN 1610272
Newspaper stories
Guardian (21 May 2008)
EU Observer (17 December 2008)
External linksedit
Full text of the proposed Directive (COD 2002/0149) with introductory text laying out its aims.
Full .pdf text of the implemented Directive (2008/104/EC)
Agency Workers Regulations 2010, implementing the Directive in UK labour law
European Commission website on the Directive on temporary agency work
National transposition laws in the Member States
EU Sectoral Social Dialogue on temporary agency work, including the joint declaration (2008) on the Directive
European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies
Uni-Europa
The invisible hand of the EU Temporary and Agency Workers Directive – An essay from a worker's rights perspective
April 11, 2024
temporary, agency, work, directive, 2008, directive, agreed, november, 2008, which, seeks, guarantee, those, working, through, employment, agencies, equal, conditions, with, employees, same, business, same, work, third, piece, legislation, european, union, emp. The Temporary Agency Work Directive 2008 104 EC is an EU Directive agreed in November 2008 which seeks to guarantee those working through employment agencies equal pay and conditions with employees in the same business who do the same work 1 It is the third piece of legislation in the European Union s employment law package to protect atypical working the others being for part time workers and fixed term workers Though it was proposed in 2002 the British German Danish and Irish governments blocked its enactment until 2008 Contents 1 Provisions 2 Purpose 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksProvisions editThe Directive on temporary agency work includes two main principles which are at the same time at the centre of a balanced approach to regulation on temporary agency work Article 4 sets clear limits to prohibitions and restrictions that may be imposed on the use of temporary agency work These are only justified on grounds related to the protection of temporary agency workers to ensure that the labour market functions properly and that abuses are prevented EU Member States are obliged to review prohibitions and restrictions on temporary agency work until and to report to the European Commission Article 5 establishes the principle of equal treatment for temporary agency workers The basic employment and working conditions shall be for the duration of the assignment at the user company equal to those of a worker employed directly by that company to occupy the same position Article 5 allows for derogations from this principle for open ended contracts providing pay between assignments Article 5 paragraph 2 to uphold collective labour agreements Article 5 paragraph 3 or based on agreements of social partners Article 5 paragraph 4 Purpose editAs with several other EU directives in the area of employment and social policy the political purpose of this directive is to set common minimum standards for temporary agency work in the EU The political goals this serves is to prevent unfair competition between different member states Common minimum standards are preferred by politicians to prevent a race to the bottom where every country tries to deregulate to attract business and theoretically all end up losing The political goals are to ensure a higher standard of living and quality of life consistent with the aims of the Treaty on European Union 2 Critics contend that the policies increase labour market inefficiencies and ultimately raise unemployment levels and reduce business output leading to lowered living standards for those not already securely seated in permanent positions in the labour market See also editUK agency worker law UK Temporary and Agency Workers Equal Treatment Bill 2008Notes edit Full name Directive 2008 104 EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on temporary agency work 2008 104 EC see Art 3 TEU and Defrenne v Sabena No 2 where the European Court of Justice holds that Europe is not just an economic union but intended also for social development References editArticlesN Countouris The Temporary Agency Work Directive Another Broken Promise 2009 38 3 ILJ 329 doi 10 1093 indlaw dwp015 E McGaughey Should Agency Workers be Treated Differently 2010 SSRN 1610272Newspaper storiesGuardian 21 May 2008 EU Observer 17 December 2008 External links editFull text of the proposed Directive COD 2002 0149 with introductory text laying out its aims Full pdf text of the implemented Directive 2008 104 EC Agency Workers Regulations 2010 implementing the Directive in UK labour law European Commission website on the Directive on temporary agency work National transposition laws in the Member States EU Sectoral Social Dialogue on temporary agency work including the joint declaration 2008 on the Directive European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies Uni Europa The invisible hand of the EU Temporary and Agency Workers Directive An essay from a worker s rights perspective Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Temporary Agency Work Directive 2008 amp oldid 1109385128, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
