Committee Takes Debate on Rights of Agency Workers to Assembly Floor

The Northern Ireland Assembly called on the Minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry, to ensure the needs of workers are taken into account when implementing the EU Agency Worker Directive [1], and that costs to businesses are minimised. The motion had been put forward for debate by the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Employment and Learning.

Committee Chairperson, Basil McCrea MLA said: “The Department came to the Committee on 1 June and asked that it support its plans for implementing the EU Agency Worker Directive.

“The EU has set out the minimum requirements that must be implemented, but the Committee is keen for the Department to consider whether there are any enhancements which should be included. We want to make sure that the rights of workers are fully taken into account, while being mindful of the cost to businesses.

“The Committee felt that a policy with such wide reaching implications needed to be debated by the Assembly.”

ENDS