To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail why temporary agency workers employed within the NI Civil Service do not receive equal pay commensurate with their permanent colleagues after twelve weeks continuous employment.

The NICS contract for the supply of temporary workers to the NICS has been set up to comply with the Agency Workers Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011. The legislation gives agency workers the right to the same basic employment and working conditions (including pay) as if they had been recruited directly, if/when they complete a qualifying period of 12 weeks in the same job. However, as per the Regulations, those agency workers who have signed up to the Swedish Derogation with their agency, are not entitled to the same pay as this effectively waives their right to equal pay.