Moves to give temporary workers the same rights as their full time counterparts could cost thousands of jobs, the CBI has said.

The business group warned that the temporary agency worker directive, to be discussed by EU ministers on Monday, would prompt a significant cut in jobs.

Forum Response: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Mike Emmott, employee relations adviser at the CIPD, told ePolitix.com: "The government has continued to argue that giving agency workers the same pay and conditions as permanent workers would remove the element of labour market flexibility that is critical to a successful UK economy

"Agency work brings benefits to both employers and employees. As the CIPD's annual employee satisfaction survey shows, temporary staff are actually more highly motivated and more satisfied with their jobs than staff on permanent contracts. In many cases agency workers value the freedom of choice that agency work can offer.

"Temporary workers, for example in IT and healthcare, may receive higher pay in return for less security. Meanwhile, organisations can retain the flexibility they need to deal with changes in demand."

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

A spokesman for the IoD told ePolitix.com: "This directive will simply mean that employers recruit fewer people on short-term contracts. That is not good for Britain and it is not good for the temps themselves.

"As our flexible labour market is eroded ever-further Britain will lose its competitive advantage."