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		Regional recruitment industry leaders voice concerns over EU regulation Wednesday, 24th May 2006 East Midlands' recruitment industry leaders recently met local MEP Roger Helmer to discuss proposed new EU regulations that could have a substantial impact on jobs in the East Midlands. Paul Ross and Sue Forsey of recruitment agency Barker Ross in Leicester and Graham Smith of Derbyshire-based TRS, representing the Recruitment and Employment Confederation in the East Midlands, have thousands of temporary workers on their books. They are concerned that the proposed EU Agency Workers Directive could endanger the flexibility of the UK labour market, making it more difficult for temporary staff to find work and creating yet more red tape for employers and agencies. In its current draft the Directive would entitle temporary workers to the same employment conditions and pay as permanent employees after only six weeks of starting work. Working out equivalent pay rates and benefits would lead to substantial and unnecessary bureaucracy, especially at a time, says the REC, when temporary workers are increasingly well rewarded and are already protected by domestic legislation such as the Employment Agency Act regulations. Paul Ross said: "In the majority of cases, opting for temporary work is a lifestyle choice, but for those workers who want a permanent job, working as a temp can lead to full-time employment. "We find that temporary employees with lower skill sets employed in food manufacture for example, particularly like the variety of working in different environments and being able to choose what hours they work." Of the 700 temporary employees paid every week after being placed by Barker Ross, 20 per cent are Poles who have come to the East Midlands to create a better life for themselves and their families in Poland Paul Ross added: "The need for temporary staff in sectors such as warehousing has ensured that jobseekers like Polish workers have found employment and local employers have been able to fill vacancies. "The Polish temps have a good reputation as hard workers. Many do not want permanent jobs as they don't plan to stay in Britain long-term but are living frugally in this country and sending their earnings back home" Roger Helmer agreed that both the European Union and the Trade Unions must recognise that times have changed and few people now have a job for life. He added: "Gone are the days when people worked for the same state-owned business for 30 years and anyone who didn't have such permanent employment was seen as fly -by -night." Mr Helmer, a Conservative MEP representing the East Midlands in Europe gave an assurance that he will do all he can to block the current draft of the Directive. He said: "It's bad for business, bad for the economy and bad for Britain and I will certainly be opposing it." The REC East Midlands will continue to lobby other MEPs in the region in order to maintain labour market flexibility and protect jobs. Graham Smith added: "We too want to see exploitation of vulnerable workers by rogue employers stamped out and are frustrated as being seen as a 'bad lot' because of the actions of unscrupulous gang masters. Reputable agencies, as represented by the REC, make a vital contribution to the local economy and any EU regulations must address the activities of rogue operators rather than systematically placing yet more red tape on law abiding businesses. Within this context we are greatly encourage by the rumours that the European Commission is considering a comprehensive review of the current draft of the Agency Workers Directive".