Substantial and growing groups of people in the UK work under atypical sets of terms and conditions, for example on casual or agency contracts. As a rule such staff are classed as ‘workers’ rather than ‘employees’ because they are not deemed to be working under ‘contracts of service’. As a result many important employment rights are denied to them (see Table 22.1).

What do you think are the main arguments for and against extending full employment rights to these groups? Where do you stand in this debate, and why? L01