WEC–Europe and Uni–Europe jointly issued recommendations for mitigating the immediate impact of the crisis and preparing for the recovery of the labour market and economy. These recommendations were developed against the background of the sharp impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the temporary agency work industry and to illustrate the commitment of the sector to protect workers, safeguard work and prepare for an inclusive, economic and social recovery.

“With these joint recommendations, the sectoral social partners of the temporary agency work industry have demonstrated a dual commitment” said Bettina Schaller, President of the WEC-Europe. “They illustrate how the sector and policymakers can work together to protect the temporary agency workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, while at the same time showcasing how the temporary agency work sector can contribute to the economic recovery based on its role in providing labour market access and transitions and in improving the skills and employability of workers”.

The statement recognised the “importance of a constructive sectoral social dialogue and that temporary agency work contributes to improve the functioning of labour markets and fulfils specific needs for both companies and workers. The contribution of temporary work agencies to keeping the labour market fluent and functioning is essential during the Covid-19 pandemic and in the phase of the economic recovery”.

The statement delivered a set of recommendations in the context of the pandemic. A call was made to agencies and user undertaking to ensure adequate health and safety protection equipment, including medical care, testing and examination, as well as to provide specific health and safety training before engaging in new tasks and jobs. Temporary work agencies were also invited to strengthen reallocation of workers “from sectors in decline to sectors in urgent need of workers including healthcare, logistics, education, agriculture & food production and supply”. 

National policy makers were recommended to ensure that health and safety information is properly conveyed with sectoral social partners’ cooperation and that all temporary agency workers have access to universal healthcare. Furthermore, for those workers who are laid off request was made to “maintain their income to the greatest extent as possible. When this is not possible, all workers, regardless of contract form, must have a minimum right to social protection, as also reflected in the European Pillar of Social Rights”. Those workers should also be entitled to national short time schemes. Finally, national policy makers are invited to “recognise the temporary agency work industry as an essential service in public policy during the pandemic”.

Also, it delivered recommendations focusing on economic recovery. The temporary agency work sector was invited to take part in sectoral social dialogue initiatives at the national level to discuss “new ways of working, learning and social protection, as social innovation can be an important driver for the economic recovery and the return to inclusive growth”; and to “engage with public authorities, user companies and sectors to create a safe and quick pathway back to work for workers including operational health and safety guidelines, processes and protocols tailored the various stages of recovery”. The recommendations also point out the need to use solutions already put in place for re and upskilling of temporary agency workers. 

Importantly, as sectors and countries pick up economic activity, the Joint Recommendations highlight the need for governments and policy makers to take into consideration the functioning and potentiality of the sector for an optimal recovery and “to strengthen the cooperation between public and private employment services to enhance labour market access for all who are exposed to displacement, exclusion and transition”.