A draft EU Directive which has been leaked to the Financial Times could give agency workers or “temps” the same rights as permanent employees doing comparable jobs in pay, pensions, holiday and other benefits.

According to the FT, Digby Jones, director general of the Confederation of British Industry has appealed to the president of the European Commission, warning that the proposal would be “very damaging to the UK labour market.”

The UK employs over one million temps, comprising IT, secretarial and nursing staff, more than any other EU Member State. According to Silicon.com, half of all Europe’s agency workers live in the UK.

The draft Directive is due to be published next month.

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