Can equal treatment be temporary?

As the battle rages on over legislation for the equal treatment of temporary and agency staff, Matt Henkes has a look at the issue and what it could mean for employees.

The progress of Labour MP Andrew Miller's private members bill for the equal treatment of agency and temporary workers has reignited a long running debate – can agency workers be given equal rights without seriously damaging the temping industry?

There are a number of powerful vested interests at loggerheads in the debate over factors such as equal pay, pensions and training entitlements for agency staff. The bill passed its second reading in February when around 150 MPs, with no small amount of union lobbying, supported its progression to the committee stage. But further investigation points towards the fact the government and industry bodies would much rather it went away.