EU member states have reached agreement on common rules to grant temporary agency workers more rights and allow a working week of over 48 hours.
Slovenian Minister of Labour & Social Affairs Marjeta Cotman, who chaired the Council meeting, said 'The proposals provides the necessary guarantees and protection for workers, while at the same time provides flexibility in organising the working time.'
The presidency said the accords would provide the basis on which temporary agency workers will be entitled to the same pay and basic entitlements as ordinary workers.
The draft directives must now go before the European Parliament.
The late night agreement by employment ministers follows years of bitter wrangling between member states over how much protection workers should have and how much flexibility employers need.
Firstly, Europeans could work up to a maximum of 60 or 65 hours a week depending on what is agreed with their employers.
Britain has long opposed a common 48-hour week, saying its economy needed more flexibility.
In addition, ministers agreed a temporary workers directive.
Millions of temporary workers across the EU would enjoy the same pay and conditions as full time employees from the first day of employment.
But in countries like Ireland, which have a social partnership model, unions and employers can come up with their own arrangements to phase in pay parity as required in the different sectors.
Minister for Labour Affairs Billy Kelleher welcomed the outcome and said 'today marks the end of a lengthy negotiation process and will provide the basis on which temporary agency workers will be entitled to the same pay and basic entitlements as ordinary workers.’
Mr Kelleher said ‘The key breakthrough from Ireland's perspective is that the agreed text provides for an empowerment of the Social Partners.’
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan also welcomed the agreement.
Ms Coughlan stressed that agency working would continue to be 'a legitimate and important form of flexible labour market supply', but warned it 'could not be used to indefinitely circumvent any obligations to workers'.
‘This Directive represents another key measure agreed by the EU,’ she said, ‘to ensure that there will be no 'race to the bottom' in terms of employment standards.’
