Plans to give temporary workers the same rights as full-time staff are being opposed by most Sussex firms.

Fifty-seven per cent of human resources (HR) professionals wants the Government to block the EU legislation.

Brighton law firm DMH surveyed more than 400 employers across the country.

It found 29 per cent of employers said they would reduce the number of temporary staff they employed if the new laws were introduced.

To accommodate the proposed legislation, 52 per cent said they would consider employing temporary staff directly and 33 per cent said they would consider employing more full-time staff to cover gaps.

A proposed EU directive giving temporary workers the same terms as long-term employees doing similar jobs could affect pay, pensions, holiday and other benefits such as health insurance, non-discretionary bonuses and share schemes.

DMH partner Rustom Tata said: "This survey confirms the substantial use of agency-supplied staff to business across a wide variety of business sectors.

"Employers in the UK use proportionately the greatest percentage of agency staff within the EU. It is clear businesses will need to encourage the Government to take their interests and concerns on board."