In contrast to the recent Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) research which concluded that the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are not disadvantaging agency workers, a survey of the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (Apsco) has found that employers of professional staff are likely to end temp and contractor assignments prematurely to avoid reaching the 12-week qualifying period which gives agency workers equal pay and rights to permanent employees.

Apsco conducted a survey of 42 recruitment agencies and found that 29% expected employers to terminate assignments before the end of the 12-week qualifying period. The first 12-week period since AWR was introduced expired at the end of December, which means many temps may be out of work this January. The recruitment agencies surveyed by Apsco provide professional-level candidates in areas such as information technology, banking and finance, and engineering.

Source: New rules likely to affect temporary workers, Financial Times, 8 January 2012.