TORY plans to allow agency workers to break strikes are an “unnecessary distraction which will inflame industrial disputes,” recruitment firms warned today.

Bosses of some of the biggest companies in the sector wrote to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to express their concern at the proposal, unveiled via draft legislation put before the Commons on Monday.

Ministers claimed the move was aimed at keeping essential services running during a possible “summer of discontent” as industrial action spreads. 

But the letter — signed by Manpower, Adecco, Pertemps, Hays and others — stressed that the government’s “unhelpful decision” could severely damage the industry.

“We strongly believe it has the potential to cost our businesses as we will be held responsible for sending strike-breakers across a picket line,” the leaders wrote. 

“It will not matter if individual businesses choose not to supply — the industry will be called into disrepute.

“At a time when we should be working collaboratively with government and other business leaders to address the more pressing needs of our economy, this is an unnecessary distraction.”

The recruiters called for consultation on the plan which “we can only see inflaming strikes — not ending them.”