News in brief
Agency workers could be given the same pay and conditions as permanent staff once they have worked in their post for 12 weeks, under government proposals. Measures to prevent employers circumventing the proposals by sacking staff after 11 weeks and then rehiring them would be included. Pensions would not be included. The proposals, made in response to the Agency Workers Directive, potentially affect about 500,000 agency workers. The UK has until 5 December 2011 to implement the reforms.
