Jones: jobs warning

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

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.

The EU wants temporary workers to be given full employment rights. Some countries believe temporary staff should be entitled to paid holidays and other benefits from the first day of their employment.

The UK government, however, argues that temporary workers should receive the benefits after a period of around six weeks in employment.

The CBI argues that this should be increased to 12 months.

"The directive is a classic example of the European Commission preventing countries from developing labour markets in ways that reflect their different circumstances," said Digby Jones.

"If the EU is serious about economic reform it should not be trying to drag the UK's flexible and successful labour market in the direction of other countries where they have high unemployment."

The TUC has dismissed the job loss claim as scaremongering.

"There is absolutely no factual evidence for the claim that extending these rights to agency temps will cost jobs," said general secretary Brendan Barber.