The cost of the pending AWD is estimated to be 0.3 per cent of the UK pay bill, hirers need to address this legislation and the increases in the cost of management time necessary to comply and implement it. Changing working practices, introducing new procedures and allocating new and appropriate resources will take considerable time to all businesses in the UK hiring Agency Workers.

Potential issues of falling foul of the AWD:

• Agency workers will have the statutory right to apply direct to the end hirer for a statement of their "day one" rights
  
• Liability in relation to access to employment and collective facilities will be the sole responsibility of the hirer, as the agency has no part to play in how the hirer makes those provisions
  
• Where there is an existing obligation to provide information to workplace representative hirers will be required to provide "suitable information" to those workplace representatives on the use of agency workers which includes:
  • Total numbers of agency workers hired by the organisation
  • Areas of the business/organisation using them
  • The type of work being undertaken

Employment Tribunals will have the power to :

• Make a declaration
• Order "just and equitable" compensation
• Recommend actions for the future
• Impose of fine of up to £5,000 per temp worker for employers found to be involved in anti-avoidance measures of the 12 week qualifying period