Member

The Bill requires the agency to make such payments to agency workers. This is to help avoid delays in the worker receiving payment. A system of joint liability could lead to significant delays in the agency worker receiving payments, in particular where there is a dispute between the agency and the end hirer. The Government see that, in many cases, the hirer will be responsible for cancelling, moving or curtailing shifts at short notice. We agree that hirers should be expected to bear the costs of these payments to the extent that they are responsible. This is why the Government believe that agencies have to make the payment to agency workers, but that they should be able to recoup some or all of the cost from the end hirers. This position is in line with consultation responses on this matter.