Unions and Parliament officials are leaning on Britain's government to cease its opposition of a European Union directive that would give temporary workers improved employment rights. A growing number of MPs have signed a petition declaring that many of the 1.4 million temporary (or agency) workers in the UK are being exploited and working in inferior conditions. Additionally Britain's Trades Union Congress released a statement rebutting many of the myths behind Parliament's opposition to the directive. Britain is the lone holdout in opposing the EU's directive, which was meant to be ratified last year.
See "UK MPs, unions call on govt to back EU temporary workers directive", Forbes.com, February 5, 2008