Agency Rates

[centurion]

After all the hullabloo about how much rates were going to go up after the divers got their increase and a few of the ROV companies jumped the gun and matched that increase, I can’t say I’ve seen it filter down to the agency bods as of yet.

The rates this year appear to be much the same as last year, i.e.

Pilot Tech – £300
Subeng – £320
Supervisor – £350

Are the agencies holding the rates down or has the summer season not got into full swing yet.

[Paul Bond]

There is plenty of work around at the mo, so i don’t know if there is a ‘season’ anymore. My rates seem to be similar to last year as well.

Don’t know who is to balme for that, (company or agency) – i just keep hounding them for more each trip – worked last time!

Keep smiling 😀

[Paul Bond]

For ‘balme’ read ‘blame’! Dyslexic fingers again!!

[Andy Shiers]

I No howe yu fleel
I hav tha sam ploblem 😕

[TheBaron]

I find this topic hard to fathom. If you aren’t happy with your agency rate then work direct for YOUR rate! It doesn’t take the brains of an Archbishop to work out that the collective corporate thumbscrews are now turning on the agencies, and they are in turn passing that pressure on to agency peeps. Only YOU can look after your best interests.

[Savante]

those rates are pretty consistent with what I’m seeing too…

[J Deans]

Are the agencies holding the rates down or has the summer season not got into full swing yet.

Agencies such as UKPS make deals with the main companies and agree work and rates at the start of the year, these days they seem to be working for the companies rather than the people who pay them their cut of their wages 😈 😈

[centurion]

If you aren’t happy with your agency rate then work direct for YOUR rate! Only YOU can look after your best interests.

I’ve tried that in the past with no luck.

I’ve added 10% to my average agency day rate and touted myself direct to the ROV companies. The theory being that 10% has got to be less than the agencies charge – I’ve heard from ops managers they usually pay 15 – 20% – so it should be a win-win situation for all involved.

Never been taken up on it though.

[rovbionic]

centurion
Are you saying you work for a contractor solely as self employed and not through an ageney?
What about insurance and the rest of the overhead agenceies have to operate….

[luckyjim37]

I have done the same as centurion this year fortunatly the company covered my insurance although you can insure yourself for around a £1000 per year through some specialist companies.

I agree though the rates seem fairly stagnant at the moment UKPS offered me a job with a rate of£340 per day as a sub eng but that is only one so far where the money was more.

The company I went to directly only paid £ 300 per day so there was no benefit.

[Seatechs]

I’m sure you guys must realise that most of the time the agencies are governed by their clients, and if not directly by the client, then by rates the other agencies are charging the clients.
Although everybody is well aware of the shortage of guys, the clients are still going to go to the agency that firstly has the guys to offer, secondly, the one that is charging the better rate. they also know that you guys don’t just have your CVs lodged with one agency, so if Joe bloggs is offered by one agency at X amount of £s, they may well get Joe from another agency at £xx p/d cheaper.
Everybody is in the game to make money, not make a loss or break even, if that was the case we’d be called charities not agencies.

[TheBaron]

Most companies cover your insurance because they are obliged to by law, excepting companies in the Netherlands(I may be wrong on this NL exception, but it’s what I’ve heard). Some companies even have 2 seprate policies to cover you as well as liability. If in doubt, ask them to fax/email the policies before you travel.

[centurion]

centurion
Are you saying you work for a contractor solely as self employed and not through an ageney?

As I said I’ve never been taken up on the offer but if I had been I would have expected to go under the companies regular insurance.

Perhaps thats the problem. The regular day rate, plus my 10% on top plus the cost of insurance cover the company has to pay means that it is just as economical for the companies to go through an agency.

[Andy Shiers]

Baron , you are correct on the Assumption that in Holland you are NOT covered by the employers liability insurance.
As for UK It is the law of the land that every workplace shall have a copy of the certificate of liability insurance to be placed in a viewable postion by the employer or said owners equipment.
This means that by law the employer in the UK MUST cover your liability insurance unless otherwise stated prior to commencing thy contract with them 🙂
If it is not there and IN DATE Take em to court over it , Sue the bar stewards 😈 ASK for a bigger pay rise to cover the costs 😀

[TheBaron]

Centurian, company insurance policies are not written on individuals. They are block policies for say, 50-100 employees, 100-150 employees, etc.. They are a standing company expense. I think one of the main reasons why people rely/depend on agencies is the perceived surety that they will be paid on time. This may be a well founded fear for some, however, I personally have never had any problems regarding money whatsoever. Maybe I’m just lucky, especially considering some of the dodgy outfits I’ve worked for!

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