If your organisation hires agency workers you need to be aware that from October this year their employment rights and your organisation's responsibilities will be changing.
 
Regulations will give agency workers the entitlement to the same or no less favourable treatment as comparable employees with respect to basic employment and working conditions, if and when they complete a qualifying period of 12 weeks in a particular job.
 
Employment Tribunals will have the power to impose a fine of up to £5,000 per agency worker on employers found to be involved in illegal avoidance practices (for example hiring workers for up to 12 weeks then re-hiring them).
 
Acas has released guidance online for employers. Visit www.acas.org.uk for full details.