A RECRUITMENT business helping Flintshire jobseekers find permanent, part-time and temporary roles has hit back at claims that agency workers are poorly treated.

North Wales-based Supertemps believes the industry would benefit from better policing of rogue recruiters, rather than new laws giving agency workers the same rights as their non-agency equivalents.

Some unions claim agency workers are exploited, and a backbench bill to increase workers’ rights has received a vote of approval in Parliament as it seeks to become law.

Supertemps director Sarah Ellwood said: “Unscrupulous agencies breaking existing laws aren’t going to change their ways because of new laws.

“Agencies that abide by current employment law and perform the proper checks of employers and employees before placements ensure both sides benefit from an excellent working relationship. “Every week we place a dozens of people in roles in Flintshire and the feedback we regularly ask for is always positive, from both the employer and employee.

Carole Salter, the Community Liaison Officer at International Power Mitsui which owns Deeside Power Station, has employed temporary staff for eight years to fulfil educational tour guide roles.

She said: “Like most businesses we need people who can hit the ground running, and temporary workers are trained to the same health, safety and environmental standards required for all staff.

“The temps we get always fit the bill.” John Barlow, a semi-retired engineer from Gwernymynydd, is one of the station’s tour guide team members. He said: “I’m treated exactly like everyone else, as one of the team, and I’ve had all the training I need. I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction out of what I do”.

“Because it’s only one or two days a week it leaves me plenty of time to run my classic motorbikes website and rebuild my house.”

Flintshire Chronicle, February 29 2008

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