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Agency drivers exploited despite driver shortage
Page 11
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• Many agency drivers still lack basic employment rights even though their services are In high demand because of driver shortages, say union leaders.
Ron Webb. Transport & General Workers Union national secretary for road transport, says smaller agencies are the worst offenders for denying drivers statutory sick pay and paid holidays.
"I don't think the situation Is as bad with drivers as in other sectors—but some agencies in Scotland and the north in particular still try to carry out some exploitation."
A TUC report called Agency work in Britain today says the UK is a haven for cowboy agencies because the market is so unregulated.
Its report comes as the European Union is poised to agree a new directive giving all agency workers the same basic employment rights enjoyed by permanent workers.
In the UK, the government wants the directive watered down so rights only apply after employees have worked a set qualifying period.
Ruth Pott, head of employment affairs for the Road Haulage Association, says driver shortages mean agency drivers are in a strong bargaining position to prevent exploitation.
"Although agencies may not yet be legally obliged to provide paid holidays, the vast majority of them do simply because they won't get the drivers if they don't."
Manpower, the UK's biggest supplier of agency drivers, says it provides them with a pension entitlement and holiday pay, plus other perks.