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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown faces agency work rebellion | Brown faces agency work rebellion |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown could face his biggest Commons backbench rebellion since becoming prime minister over a bill to give agency workers more rights. | Gordon Brown could face his biggest Commons backbench rebellion since becoming prime minister over a bill to give agency workers more rights. |
| More than one million people are employed via agencies, which means they do not get benefits such as sick pay. | |
| MPs are due to debate a private member's bill which aims to give them the same rights as permanent staff. | MPs are due to debate a private member's bill which aims to give them the same rights as permanent staff. |
| About 130 Labour backbenchers support the bill but government opposition means it is unlikely to be passed. | About 130 Labour backbenchers support the bill but government opposition means it is unlikely to be passed. |
| Job losses | Job losses |
| However, ministers have offered to set up a commission to find a compromise. | However, ministers have offered to set up a commission to find a compromise. |
| The bill, tabled by Labour's Andrew Miller, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, also has the support of trade unions but is opposed by business leaders. | |
| The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said it could lead to job losses and make the country less competitive. | The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said it could lead to job losses and make the country less competitive. |
| In December, EU ministers failed to reach an agreement on legislation that would have given temporary workers, such as those employed through agencies, similar rights to permanent staff across Europe. | In December, EU ministers failed to reach an agreement on legislation that would have given temporary workers, such as those employed through agencies, similar rights to permanent staff across Europe. |
| The UK opposed the proposals, saying it would damage the country's flexible labour market and hit jobs, but the legislation will be discussed again this year. | The UK opposed the proposals, saying it would damage the country's flexible labour market and hit jobs, but the legislation will be discussed again this year. |
| The CBI warned that new rights for agency staff discussed by the EU employment ministers would cost up to 250,000 jobs. | The CBI warned that new rights for agency staff discussed by the EU employment ministers would cost up to 250,000 jobs. |
| The union Unite is campaigning for equal rights for agency workers, saying there should be a "level playing field" with permanently employed people. | The union Unite is campaigning for equal rights for agency workers, saying there should be a "level playing field" with permanently employed people. |