ACE believes small engineering firms will lose out in changes to agency workers' rights 
(04/06/2008)
The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) has announced its dismay at government proposals to give agency workers equal rights to permanent staff after 12 weeks in a job.
ACE chief executive Nelson Ogunshakin said, “In times of economic uncertainty this country needs a flexible workforce that can be quickly matched to changing economic conditions. This proposal will tie the hands of British consultancy and engineering firms when they least need it.”
“For a government that is seeking to lower costs of production in the construction industry this change seems counter-productive,” continued Ogunshakin. “Given the fluctuations in work-flow in the construction industry, consultancy and engineering firms rely heavily on agency workers. In a sector operating with low margins, for many firms, especially SMEs, this flexibility is the difference between profit and loss.”
“With the current problems associated with the tightening of credit markets, all businesses are having difficulties securing lower costs of finance. Together with a decreasing pool of qualified engineers and now this change, consultancy and engineering firms, especially the small and medium sized firms, face a difficult future. Much of the good work that has been promised for our industry will now have a much smaller impact.” concluded Ogunshakin.
Related categories: Construction Industry Standards and Legislation
