Temporary agency work (interim)

In temporary agency work you are employed by an agency that places you with a user company, often as a stepping stone to a permanent contract. You are entitled to the same pay and premiums as permanent colleagues in the same role.

How does the statute work?

You sign (usually weekly) contracts with the agency, which pays your wages and carries the administration, while you work at the user company. The equal-pay principle is the core: the same gross pay, the same shift premiums, meal vouchers and working conditions as a permanent employee in the same role. On top you accrue an end-of-year premium through the Social Fund for Temporary Workers once you have worked enough days.

Motives and inflow

Agency work is only allowed for legal motives: replacement, temporary increase in work, exceptional work or inflow (maximum three attempts per role, meant to flow through to permanent). In technical practice interim is often a disguised trial period; so ask at the start how long the interim phase lasts and what the criteria for permanent are.

Interim or straight to permanent?

For shortage profiles going straight to permanent is often feasible: employers wanting scarce technicians cannot afford long interim constructions. At AltusConnect we place directly into permanent contracts; if an offer does include an interim phase, it should come with a clear term and a pay agreement for afterwards.