Temp worker cost spiralling out of control, warns union

THE cost of hiring agency staff and temporary workers to cover for shortages across the public sector is “spiralling out of control”, a new report claims.

Research by the GMB union showed the annual bill for employing temps or agency workers had increased by £2.5bn over the past five years to over £11bn.

National officer Rehana Azam said the situation had worsened because of the cap on public sector pay, which was causing “lasting damage”.

She added: “Recruitment and agency costs are spiralling out of control and it is questionable whether the policy is saving any money at all.

“That is why we are demanding a pay rise of at least 5% to restore some of the quality of life stolen from our members.”

The GMB said there was a “forgotten army” of three million public sector workers not covered by a pay review body.