According to research of 541 businesses conducted by recruitment and HR services company Randstad, 66 per cent of respondents are currently unaware of the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), with just 7 per cent having conducted an assessment of how they will be affected by the regulations.

The AWR will come into force on 1 October and will ensure that agency workers receive the right to the same basic working and employment conditions as those in the equivalent permanent job recruited directly by their host organisation.

Brian Wilkinson, head of Randstad UK, says: ‘With the implementation of the AWR just a few months away, it is a concern that such a high proportion of organisations are so unprepared.

‘We urge all users of agency workers to conduct a thorough assessment of their human capital resources and the impact of the regulations. Doing this properly will enable organisations to optimise the structure and efficiency of their workforces.’