The EU has ratified proposals by the UK to give temporary workers equal rights to permanent staff after 12 weeks in a job.

The decision removes the final obstacle in a long process towards giving temps the same rights in terms of salary and sick pay, despite fears that employers would use less agency labour as a result.

The deadlock in the EU talks was finally broken when the government agreed the 12-week proposal with the CBI and the TUC in May.

As part of the compromise, Britain was able to secure an opt-out from the Working Time directive and the proposed 48-hour maximum working week.

"It provides a fair deal for workers without damaging Britain's economic competitiveness or putting jobs at risk," said business secretary John Hutton.

"Flexibility has been critical to our ability to create an extra 3m jobs over the past decade. That flexibility has been preserved by ensuring workers can continue to have choice over their working hours in future years."