Labour rights and occupational health and safety regulations for temporary workers in logistics

Logistics is constantly growing and subject to strong fluctuations. Many companies have peak times when they not only want to rely on their permanent staff but also need temporary workers.

There are many advantages when a company employs temporary workers . Unfortunately, however, it is often forgotten that temporary workers also enjoy labor rights and are subject to occupational health and safety regulations.

What are the employment rights of temporary workers?

The temporary Employment Act regulates the employment rights of temporary workers. Equal treatment and equal pay are a central element.

This ensures that wages, working hours and other essential working conditions are the same as for permanent employees.

Temporary workers must receive the same hourly wage and the same allowances (e.g. night pay, overtime pay) as permanent employees who perform comparable work.

Temporary workers are entitled to the same working time arrangements as permanent staff, including breaks and rest periods.

Temporary workers have the same holiday entitlement as permanent employees. This is based on the legal requirements or the regulations of the company in which they work.

Temporary workers must be informed in advance about their specific work tasks and the place of work.

Temporary workers have the right to contact the works council in the company where they are employed and to seek union support. They can also attend works meetings if this is necessary to exercise their rights.

Temporary workers enjoy the same protection against dismissal as permanent employees. This means that the statutory notice periods also apply to them and dismissal may only take place under the conditions set out in the Dismissal Protection Act (KSchG). This includes protection against arbitrary or unjustified dismissal and compliance with social criteria in the case of dismissals for operational reasons.

Which occupational health and safety regulations apply to temporary workers in the logistics sector?

The occupational health and safety of temporary employment logistics is protected by various legal regulations. Employers are obliged to ensure the safety and health of temporary workers in the workplace. The most important legal bases include:

• Occupational Safety and Health Act (ArbSchG): the ArbSchG obliges employers to take measures to protect employees from risks to safety and health at work.
• Professional associations: these organizations ensure the implementation and monitoring of occupational health and safety measures and also provide accident insurance protection for employees.

The logistics industry has special requirements for occupational health and safety, as the activities are often physically demanding and involve specific risks. The specific occupational health and safety measures include:

• Risk assessments: the operating company must carry out regular risk assessments to identify possible sources of danger and take appropriate protective measures.
• Training and instruction: temporary workers must be given comprehensive training and instruction before starting work and when working conditions change. This includes safety regulations, the use of machines and equipment, and first aid measures.
• Ergonomic workplaces: particularly for physically demanding activities such as lifting and carrying heavy loads, ergonomic workplaces must be set up and aids must be made available to protect the health of temporary workers.

Do you need temporary workers for logistics? We can help you!

Do you need logistics staff for temporary work? We at Zeitarbeit International know that it can be difficult for many companies to meet all the requirements for temporary workers.

We have more than 25 years of expertise in personnel placement for warehouse and logistics and temporary employment for industry and production. We have focused on Eastern Europe. We provide temporary workers from abroad: warehouse workers and logistics employees from Eastern Europe: Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Croatia, Czech Republic, Baltic States and Ukraine.

Our temporary workers are available quickly and easily. If you are worried about communication, that is not a problem. All of our workers speak very good German.

We are also at your side the entire time and take care of all the necessary administrative procedures for your staff.