Brussels, 04/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - By adopting the report of Dutch Socialist Ieke Van den Burg last week, on working conditions for temporary workers, the EP Employment Committee has approved the European Commission proposal that aim to increase legal protection for temporary workers and assess the potential for jobs in this sector (see EUROPE 21 March p 11). A number of amendments were added to it. This report figures on the agenda for the November EP plenary session in Strasbourg.
By way of its amendments, the Parliamentary commission is indicating how Member States have to strengthen statutory rights, which are essential for providing social protection to temporary workers. It also believes that while approving the Commission's non-discriminatory principle rather than trying to make such workers identical, it would be better to find a way of ensuring that the working conditions for temporary workers are as good as if they had been employees of the company for which they work.
The Parliamentary committee also adopted "compromise amendments" on the controversial issue of derogations to equal treatment. Therefore is supported getting rid of the possibility of granting general derogations in favour of granting the principle to temporary workers working for no longer than six weeks on an assignment for the company doing the hiring. In a press statement the Commission explained that there would be an exception on contacts but contrary to what the European Commission wanted, this would be limited to wages.
This exemption also covered other forms of contract focusing on minimum contracts of 18 months. Other amendments focus on better protection for temporary workers and their salaries between missions. Included in the other amendments, is that of compelling Member States to stop temporary workers being used to break strikes.