Gordon Brown won a reprieve for recruiters as he saw off a European vote which would have given agency workers full employment rights.

Brown won plaudits from recruiters for his diplomatic tactics in blocking a crucial EU vote on the Agency Work Directive, which would give temps full pay after six weeks.

Tom Hadley, Recruitment and Employment Confederation director of external relations, told Recruiter that the government's "staunch support" demonstrated an understanding of the industry and the benefit it gives the economy.

He added: "It is a reprieve, which is good news. But things can change. Our members should remain proactive and continue to press national as well as EU governments on protecting our industry from what will undoubtedly be renewed pressure to change national legislation from the trade unions on this issue."

However, the Trades Union Congress lambasted the decision calling it "very disappointing".

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, said there was "real anger among unions that the UK government played a pivotal role in blocking this modest measure to improve workplace justice".

Helen Reynolds, acting chief executive of the REC, added: "The REC's independent polling of temps shows that over 80% of them are satisfied with their placements. The current draft of the directive would have resulted in greater bureaucracy, more risk in engaging temps and therefore less job opportunities."

Britain may be forced to come to a compromise on temps' rights in return for its favoured exemption of the 48-hour maximum working hours law.

Meanwhile, Annemarie Muntz, president of European recruitment agency trade body Eurociett, told Recruiter that the current AWD draft is bad for business and will cost recruiters.

"We are not opposed to a directive per se, but not a 'one size fits all' on equal pay. We recognise that a good, solid legal environment is good for business."

Recruiters were quick to welcome the reprieve.

Ann Swain, chief executive of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo) said: "The Directive has been blocked before only to return, and the Commission has indicated it might withdraw it entirely, but at this crucial stage our industry needs to guard against complacency."

Linda Harlow, regional operations director for Randstad, said there is a huge misconception about the role agencies play in recruiting temps, adding that it, like many reputable agencies, offer temps "very good" benefits such as maternity pay, sick pay and training.