Social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher is to introduce new legislation which will entitle people employed through payroll agencies to the same secondary benefits as traditional workers.

The aim is to ‘make it clear that every worker, whether employed via a payroll company or on a regular contract, has the right to protection against unfair dismissal and the right to the same secondary benefits,’ broadcaster Nos says.

Last year MPs supported extending the right to perks such as training and help with childcare to workers on flexible contracts.

Since January, people on temporary contracts have been entitled to the same redundancy rules as permanent staff and from July they will also be entitled to redundancy payments.

However, there is mounting evidence that thousands of people with temporary contracts are losing their jobs because of the changes.

Although Asscher has announced that the government is to stop using payroll agencies, research by Nos at the weekend showed 85% of local councils use the system.

Payroll workers interviewed for the report said they often get less sick pay than their colleagues, do not get a year-end bonus and are not given priority in applying for in-house jobs because they are not considered to be on the staff.