This document summarizes regulation of temporary agency work and collective bargaining in the European Union. It finds that while temporary agency work is highly regulated across EU member states, there is heterogeneity between countries in how and what is regulated. Collective bargaining is important for setting working conditions in many EU15 countries, mainly at the sectoral level, while collective bargaining arrangements are often lacking in newer member states. The document concludes by noting temporary agency work will continue to be an important part of the flexicurity policy debate in Europe.

1. Temporary Agency work andTemporary Agency work and
Collective Bargaining in the EUCollective Bargaining in the EU
Sectoral Dialogue Committee _ TAWSectoral Dialogue Committee _ TAW
16 September 200916 September 2009
Christian WelzChristian Welz
European Foundation, DublinEuropean Foundation, Dublin

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OutlineOutline
I. Methodology
II. Snapshot on incidence
III. Statutory regulation
IV. Social dialogue (SD) &
collective bargaining (CB)
V. Regulatory outcomes
VI. Conclusions

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I.I. MethodologyMethodology

EIRO thematic feature in EU 27+ Norway (NO)
 structured written questionnaire

in cooperation with

Eurociett

Uni-Europa
 28 national reports + 1 overview report

checked and +/_ approved by SP

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0
200000
400000
600000
800000
1000000
1200000SI
LU
EL
SK
DK
NO
RO
FI
CZ
IE
HU
AT
SE
PL
BE
PT
ES
NL
IT
DE
FR
UK
II. TAW in FTE in EU 27 (+ N0)II. TAW in FTE in EU 27 (+ N0)
- no. of workers in FTE -- no. of workers in FTE -

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Quality of data sufficient not
sufficient
very poor not available
AT, BE, DE, ES,
FI, FR, HU, IT,
NO, PL

CZ, DK, EL, IE,
LU, NL, RO, SE,
SI, SK, UK

EE, PT 
BG, CY, LT, LV,
MT


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III. Statutory regulationIII. Statutory regulation

via separate legislation
AT, BE, DE, ES, EL, IE, IT, SE, UK

via general employment code
FR, FI, HU, LU, NO, Pl, RO, SI

via combined approach
CZ, NL, PT, SK

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IV. SD and CBIV. SD and CB

Employers associations that perform CB
> 11 MS
 AT (WKÖ), BE (Federgon), DE (BZA, iGZ,
AMP), DK (Dansk Erhverv, FASID),
ES (AETT, AGETT, FEDETT), FI (HPL),
FR (PRISME), IT (Assolavoro), LU (ULEDI),
NL (ABU, NBBU), SE (Bemanningsföretagen)

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IV. SD and CBIV. SD and CB

Trade associations without CB mandate
 AT (VZA), BG (BG staffing), CZ (APPS),
DK (FVD, VICE), EE (EPREL),
EL (ENEPASE), HU (SZTMSZ),
IE (NRF), LT (LIIA), NL (VIA),
NO (NHO), PL (ZAPT, SAZ), PT (APESPE),
SI (ZAZ), SK (APAS), UK (REC)

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IV. SD and CBIV. SD and CB

Specific trade unions for TAWs
 FR (USI_CGT)
 IT (NIDIL-CGIL/ ALAI-CISL/ CPO-UIL)
> represent atypical workers including TAWs
 EL (PASYPET)

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IV. CB - levelsIV. CB - levels
State Inter-
sector/
Tripartite
TAW
Sector
TAW
Company
Other
sectors
AT  
BE    
BG
CY
CZ
DE   
DK   
EE
ES   
FI   
FR  
GR
HU

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IV. CB - levelsIV. CB - levels
IE  
IT  
LT
LU  ()
LV
MT
NL  
NO 
PL 
PT
RO
SE    
SI
SK
UK () 
State Inter-
sector/
Tripartite
TAW
Sector
TAW
Company
Other
sectors

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V. Regulatory outcomesV. Regulatory outcomes

reasons for use
 no regulation/restrictions:

BG, CY, EE, IE, LT, MT
 no restrictions (except in case of strikes):

DK, FI, HU, LT, NL, SK, UK
 restrictions in the course of strikes

explicit for TAW: FR, IT, ES

for temp work: RO, PL

for any worker: BE

qualified: HU, UK

by CA: BE, NL, HU, LT (TU model CA)

voluntary: FI

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V. Regulatory outcomesV. Regulatory outcomes

other MS have restrictions relating to

reasons permitting TAW

limiting proportion of TAW

limits to sectors /occupations

ceiling on duration or nos. of assignments

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V. Regulatory outcomesV. Regulatory outcomes

equal pay > regulated in all MS, except:
 BG, CY, LT, MT, IE (ant.), UK (ant.), NO

vocational training
 regulation silent in: DE, EL, HU,IE, UK, NO
 no regulation: BG, CY, EE, LV, LT, MT
 explicit provision: AT, BE, DK, ES, FR, IT, LU, NL, RO,
SE, SK

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V. Regulatory outcomesV. Regulatory outcomes

requirement of licence / permit
 in half of MS: AT, BE, CZ, DE, DK, EL, ES, FR, HU,
IE (planned), LU, MT, RO

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V. Regulatory outcomesV. Regulatory outcomes

workers’ representation
 limited to agency: CY, CZ, EE, ES, LT, LV, MY, RO,
SI, SK
 agency + user enterprise: BE, DE, DK, EL, FR, NL,
IT, LU, PT, (SE)
 no specific rights: BG, FI, HU, PL,

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V. Regulatory outcomesV. Regulatory outcomes

control and enforcement
 in most countries > general labour inspectorate

AT, BE, CZ, DK, ES, FR, FI, DE, EL, HU, IE, LV,
LU,MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, SI, SK, SE
 labour tribunal: IT
 National Employment Rights Agency: IE
 BERR / Gangmasters Licensing Authority: UK
 Social partners: BE, NL, SE

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V. Regulatory outcomesV. Regulatory outcomes

fines and sanctions, e.g.
 fines and or revocation of license: AT, CZ, DE, EL, IE
RO, PT, SK
 + criminal sanctions: FR, IE
 + prohibition order: UK

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VI. ConclusionsVI. Conclusions

TAW largely highly regulated, but sector is
very heterogeneous re how and what is regulated
 mix of statutes, CA and self-regulation

law has primacy, but CB is also important in EU 15
_ mainly at sectoral level

NMS have no arrangements for CB

no specific regulation: BG, CY, EE, LT, LV, MT

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VI. ConclusionsVI. Conclusions

11 EMP associations with CB mandate

lack of TU organisation
 especially in NMS

lack of reliable data in many MS

meaningful SD at EU level
 between Eurociett and UNI-Europa
 promoting SD at national level (roundtables)

TAW > at the heart of the flexicurity debate

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VII. Further informationVII. Further information

http://www.eurofound.eu.int/publications

christian.welz@eurofound.europa.eu