IT Contractors are to be excluded from the Agency Workers Bill according to the bill's instigator MP Andrew Miller. The heavily debated piece of legislation was threatening to seriously damage the IT contractor market by pushing for temporary workers who work through agencies to gain the same rights as permanent staff. Such a move would have caused major issues for companies who regularly use IT contractors, including increased costs and reduced flexibility.

Miller stated that '“…we did not want to include providers of professional services who chose to work through agencies…” and that the Bill is “…designed to exclude professional IT contractors and similar people.” This welcome statement was apparently effected after intense pressure from the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo), who have been lobbying the Bill's advocates since the legislation was announced.

Ann Swain, the ATSCo chief executive, comments “While ATSCo fully supports protection of vulnerable agency workers, we are pleased that Andrew Miller MP has
publicly acknowledged that contractors in the technology sector should be excluded from this Bill. ATSCo has constantly pointed out that temporary workers in IT and engineering usually earn significantly more than their full time counterparts and choose to work as contractors because of the flexible lifestyle benefits. This message is finally getting through to UK lawmakers.''