Agency Workers Regulations and the waste industry

Whilst many industries are reducing their employee levels, the Waste Management sector is increasing in size. The Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM) anticipates an increase of 35% of the workforce to 50,000 employees by 2020, a clear signal that the sector is growing.

The industry looks positive in terms of expansion, with an increase in demand for recycling and energy from waste facilities.

The CIWM also states that demand for skilled employees has increased, stating: “Gone are the days of the industry being perceived at the lower end of the desirability scale and this is attracting fresh, new talent to help drive forward growth and prosperity.”

The waste industry will be significantly influenced by the Agency Workers Regulations due to the levels of temporary agency labour they rely on.

The average number weeks worked was far beyond the 12-week qualifying period, with some assignments lasting for years. The variety of locations candidates work at is very high, which would make them very difficult to track due to the diluted amount of sites they have worked at. Making this even more complicated is the fact that often temporary agency workerrs are provided by a plethora of recruitment agencies.

If you want any help or advice about the Agency Workers Regulations contact us or take a look at our downloads page.