The UK government was today urged by union CWU to break the deadlock on the European Temporary Agency Workers Directive on equal rights for agency workers ahead of tomorrow’s vote at the Council of Ministers.

General Secretary Billy Hayes said: “We have been working toward this moment for over five years and it’s now crunch time for the UK government.

"The UK is behind the times on this issue, many member states already enjoy equal treatment of agency workers. It’s an important piece of legislation which affects huge numbers of workers in growing parts of the economy.

"The government needs to consult its conscience – this is a moral issue and it’s time that this injustice ends."

Agency workers doing the same jobs as permanent employees currently receive inferior rates of pay, often half that of permanent staff, along with less holiday, minimum levels of sick pay, no occupational pension and miss out on training and overtime opportunities.

The Portuguese Presidency is at the moment trying to broker a deal to break the deadlock over the Directive, which CWU said is being blocked by the UK and Irish governments.