Do you know what your rights are when you use an agency to find work? Do you know what you are entitled to? Does your agency follow the rules?
Know your rights
If you are an agency worker, it is time to know your rights and to take action if they are not being respected.
Many agencies comply with the law, but not all of them. If you are not sure of your rights, or you want more information, you can ring the confidential Pay and Work Rights helpline 0800 917 2368*.
All complaints received by the Pay and Work Rights helpline are treated in confidence. Your details will not be passed on to your agency unless the Pay and Work Rights helpline has your written permission. However, if your complaint is about non-payment of wages, the Pay and Work Rights helpline will not be able to investigate without permission to disclose your name.
The National Minimum Wage (NMW)
Most workers are entitled to be paid at least the NMW for all the hours that they work. If your employer deducts anything from your pay, your pay should still be at least the NMW - unless your agency make limited deductions for accommodation
Obligations of your agency
Agencies cannot:
- charge you for finding you work
- charge you for your uniform without letting you know they are going to
- make unlawful deductions from your pay
- force you to work more than 48 hours a week
- discriminate against you
You also have the right to:
- be paid for all the work you do
- paid holiday
- be paid at least the National Minimum Wage
- protection under health and safety laws
- a copy of the terms of your employment
Working hours and rest breaks
Your agency, or the company you are working in, can't make you work more than 48 hours a week and you are entitled to at least one day off each week. If you work longer than six hours you should get a 20 minute break
Deductions from pay
Your agency can only make certain deductions from your pay. You should receive a payslip to should show you any deductions that are made, along with how much you are paid.
Additional links
Pay and Work Rights helpline*
*Calls are free from landlines; call charges from mobiles vary
You should be paid at least the National Minimum Wage
Most workers are entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
Workers aged 22 and over: £5.73 per hour
Workers aged 18-21: £4.77 per hour
Workers aged 16-17: £3.53 per hour
Your employment rights
Other languages
- This information is also available in Bengali, Lithuanian, Polish and Slovakian
- Bengali (PDF, 874K)
- Lietuviškai
- polsku
- slovenčine
Bookmark this site
Add this site to your social bookmarks including Del.icio.us, Digg, Reddit and more
