This has been taken direct from the government website. 

Agency workers will be entitled to new employment rights from 1 October 2011 when new regulations come into force. When on an assignment you will get some of these rights from day one and some after 12 weeks in the same job.

The Agency Workers Regulations come into force on 1 October 2011. They will give you an entitlement to the same basic employment and working conditions as if you'd been recruited directly.

The new rules mean that from day one of an assignment you’ll be entitled to use your workplace’s facilities, and get information on job vacancies.

·         Agency workers: entitlement to equal treatment - from day one (employment section)

·         Agency workers: what information should you get and when (employment section)

After 12 weeks employment

After 12 weeks in the same job with the same hirer you’ll be entitled to equal treatment in:

·         pay

·         holidays

·         night work

·         rest periods/breaks

·         duration of working time

The new rules don’t mean that you become a permanent employee of the hirer after 12 weeks.

The regulations are not retrospective (back dated). Any time spent on an assignment before 1 October 2011 will not count towards the 12 week qualifying.

·         Agency workers: entitlement to equal treatment after 12 weeks (employment section)

Pregnant agency workers

After completing the 12 week qualifying period, pregnant agency workers will be allowed paid time off for ante-natal appointments during an assignment.

·         Agency workers: pregnant workers and new mothers (employment section)

·         Working out your employment status: agency workers (employment section)

·         Agency workers and employment agencies (employment section)