The government made two announcements last week of interest to LELR readers relating to the forthcoming agency worker regulations and the national minimum wage.

Agency worker regulations

The government last week published guidance to help employees and employers to understand the agency worker regulations which come into effect on 1 October this year.

The regulations apply to:

  • individuals who work as temporary agency workers
  • individuals or companies (private, public and third sector) involved in the supply of temporary agency workers, either directly or indirectly, to work temporarily for and under the direction and supervision of a hirer
  • and hirers (private, public and third sector)

    From 1 October, agency workers are entitled to access facilities (such as canteen, childcare facilities, etc) and information about job vacancies from the first day of their assignment. Pregnant agency workers will be allowed to take paid time off for ante-natal appointments during any assignment.

After 12 weeks in the same job, agency workers will be entitled to the same or no less favourable treatment with respect to basic employment and working conditions relating to pay and other basic working conditions (annual leave, overtime, etc).

Workers can include weeks when they only work for a few hours a week in the same assignment.

To download the guidance, go to: http://www.bis.gov.uk

National minimum wage

The government last week also accepted the independent Low Pay Commission’s recommendations for this year’s National Minimum Wage rates.

The following rates will therefore come into effect on 1 October 2011:

  • the adult rate will increase by 15p to £6.08 an hour
  • the rate for 18-20 year olds will increase by 6p to £4.98 an hour
  • the rate for 16-17 year olds will increase by 4p to £3.68 an hour
  • the rate for apprentices will increase by 10p to £2.60 an hour.