§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about conditions of employment for workers on temporary employment contracts; what measures he proposes to introduce to improve the legal rights for workers on temporary employment contracts; and if he will make a statement. [93200]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyThe Department receives frequent correspondence from members of the public regarding different aspects of conditions of employment for temporary workers.
The Employment Relations Bill, currently before Parliament, will abolish provisions which currently allow employees working under specified fixed term contracts to waive their right to claim unfair dismissal at the end of the term. The Government will implement the recently adopted European Directive on Fixed-Term Work, which will ensure decent conditions for most classes of temporary worker. The deadline for implementing this Directive is July 2001.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what improvements in conditions his Department has introduced for workers on temporary employment contracts since May 1997. [93199]
§ Mr. Ian McCartneyTemporary workers will benefit in the same way as those on indefinite contracts from the range of improved employment conditions we have introduced. The Working Time Regulations 1998 provide protection for workers from long working hours and the right to rest and paid leave; the qualifying period for general unfair dismissal claims has recently been reduced from two years to one; and the National Minimum Wage Act 1998, which took effect on 1 April, sets minimum wage rates for workers aged 18 or over. We are also consulting on updated regulations to protect the interests of those finding work through employment agencies. Proposals in the Employment Relations Bill, now in Parliament, will ensure that employees working under fixed term contracts cannot waive their right to claim unfair dismissal at the end of the term.