The CBI has attacked a proposed law on temporary workers as “ridiculous overprescription” ahead of a second reading debate in the Commons tomorrow, arguing that it would come at the cost of more than 250,000 jobs.

Under a Private Member’s Bill by Andrew Miller (Labour, Ellesmere Port & Neston), temporary workers would receive equal treatment on pay from day one. The CBI says that this would “muddle” the relationship between agencies employing the workers and the businesses in which they work.

The CBI said that the proposals would not aid vulnerable workers mistreated by “the odd bad-apple-in-the-barrel” employer and would threaten labour-market flexibility. It said that agency workers should not get equality with permanent staff until after a year. Unions urged rejection of the CBI argument.

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