The role of temporary agency work and labour market transitions in Europe: institutional frameworks, empirical evidence, good practice and the impact of social dialogue

This report is the result of research carried out by Wilke, Maack and Partner in cooperation with partners in France, Italy, the UK and Belgium in 2012 for Eurociett and UNI Europa [union representing workers in 150 countries and in every region of the world], the two [European Union] EU social partners in the temporary agency work sector. The aim of the analysis was to obtain quantitative as well as qualitative data and information on the following key questions: What is the role of temporary agency work and the sectoral social partners in facilitating sideward and upward transitions in the labour market for agency workers? What is the profile of temporary agency workers? What are the evolution and progression patterns of the agency workers in the labour market? What are the working conditions of agency workers and how can the social partners improve them? What are the sectoral initiatives set up by the social partners to improve quality of transitions, such as temporary agency work sectoral social partners' jointly managed training funds, social funds or pension funds for temporary agency workers? After the executive summary and the recommendations that were adopted as a result of this study, the main results are presented as follows: Part A collects data and information on the role and dynamics of temporary agency work, regulatory frameworks as well as industrial relations and employment conditions, and contexts of type of work in the whole of the EU, mainly based on available comparative statistics as well as comparative studies that have been carried out by other researchers. Part B of the report consists of a series of case studies on major forms of labour market transitions and shows the role of temporary agency work and social dialogue for supporting labour market transitions and working conditions of temporary agency workers. The final chapter presents some general conclusions from the point of view of the authors, in particular, lessons learned from good practice and further needs for empirical research and exchange of information and knowledge.

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