Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The UK Government has brought forward proposals to remove Regulation 7 of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. Regulation 7 prohibits employment businesses from providing agency workers to cover the duties normally performed by an employee of an organisation who is taking part in a strike or other industrial action, or to cover the work of an employee covering the duties of an employee taking part in a strike or other industrial action. The UK Government has yet to publish the outcome of the consultation.
As with the provisions of the Trade Union Act 2016, I believe that to remove Regulation 7 would adversely affect the balance of power in the employment relationship and, consequently, would damage our social partnership approach to the delivery of public services in Wales. The proposal we are consulting on would retain the effect of the law as it stands today, to prohibit the use of agency workers in these circumstances.
Today I have issued a consultation on proposals about the use of agency workers by devolved public authorities to provide cover during strike or other industrial action.
Responses to this consultation will be used to inform the ongoing development of Welsh Government legislation.
The consultation is available at:
and will close on 6 December 2016.