A hearing was held last week in Massachusetts to request updates on a bill that would force all staffing agencies in the state to conduct operations under the same registration requirements.
The bill was filed by state Representative Linda Dorcena Forry of Dorchester and Senator John Hart of South Boston.
"The very design on the temporary staffing business model is what often creates employer ambiguity and confusion on the part of the worker," Joanne Goldstein, state Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, said in a statement.
According to Wicked Local, Goldstein added that the temporary employment sector had become a "significant player in the economy" since the recession, and in January 2010, temporary help services added 52,000 jobs nationwide.
The bill would subject all employment agencies to provide written notice of key job details to employees on assignment, including the name of the employing agency, the worksite employer, the type of work and wages to be paid. None of this information had previously been required by law.
The Massachusetts Staffing Association is opposed to the bill. It believes that increased regulation would jeopardize staffing firms' ability to place workers, and limit their ability to charge certain fees.
