The Government today published guidance to help employers prepare for the introduction of new rights for agency workers later this year.

Under the Agency Workers Regulations, staff hired through agencies will have rights to the same basic employment and working conditions as if they had been recruited directly by a company after completing a 12-week qualifying period in a job.

The regulations, approved by the previous Labour government, implement the EU Agency Workers Directive as agreed in 2008, and will come into force in October.

Employment relations minister Edward Davey said: "The Agency Workers Regulations have been on the statute book since January 2010 and followed negotiations between the CBI and TUC.

"We looked carefully at the possibility of amending the regulations to address employers' concerns but were forced to conclude that we could not do so without putting the 12-week qualifying period at risk.

"This qualification period is something that is a key flexibility that we know is vital to business. Our focus therefore has been providing the best possible guidance to help everyone affected understand these regulations. We have collaborated with key organisations including employment agencies, employers, trade unions and representative bodies to develop this guidance and I believe the resulting document will help prepare everyone for the forthcoming changes."

Kevin Green, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, said: "Agency work plays a vital role within our economy. Limiting bureaucracy and uncertainty will ensure that it continues to benefit businesses and job-seekers.

"Implementation will create some challenges, but the regulations do not fundamentally impact on the crucial flexibility that agency work provides. The publication of the guidance is the latest milestone - it is now up to agencies and employers to come together and make it work."