Agency Workers Regulations

A leading organisation for contractors and freelancers have released a helpful guide on Agency Workers Regulations.

This informative guide came due to the mis-understanding of the Government and the current guidance that it offers. There are high levels of ambiguity surrounding who falls into the AWR. The main aim is to highlight where AWR applies and where it doesn’t fit.

The guide has been sent out to many recruitment agencies and Human Resource teams across the UK. A recent survey found that nearly 500 HR professionals were unsure as to the benefits, holiday eligibility for temporary workers.

Many organisations now rely on agency workers so it is vital that those in both recruitment and HR are up to speed on what the regulations for these workers are. This latest guide has been put together with the help of industry experts and lawyers who are determined to help those in the industry.

It helps to ascertain the position of both the contractor or freelancer in the organisation, their benefit entitlement etc. and the role of the business. With an estimated 1.4 million freelancers in the UK this information is key. It runs through the rights of an ‘agency worker’ and the implications of a ‘temporary work agency’ such as an umbrella company.

Self-employed freelancers are excluded from this and will be deemed as ‘out of scope’ in terms of AWR purposes.

John Brazier from PCG has spoken on the matter and said, “Let’s be very clear, the AWR itself is not intended to apply to freelance workers in business on their own account. However, the guidance lacks clarity and transparency for them and we have been forced to step in to supply this for freelancers, clients and agencies. This guide is therefore vital to ensure that those working with freelancers on a day-to-day basis have the confidence to conduct business as usual.”

To find out more you can access the AWR on PCG’s website