Agency contract not extended - any rights??

[YouLando]

I was an agency worker, working in my workplace for a few years. My contract was extended a number of times on a rolling basis.
My latest contract was due to expire at the end of March, and I'd been verbally told that I'd be kept for another 3 months after this. A week before the end of my contract my office closed due to CV, I couldn't work from home, so contacted the agency to let them know, and they pointed out that my contract still hadn't been renewed. My boss then contacted me to tell me that the extension had been turned down. So I'm now without a job, and am not being paid anything.
Is there anything at all I can do about this?They didn't have to renew my contract, and have decided not to in the circumstances, but if it had been in place at any time before my office closed I would have been entitled to some pay, as per other employees who have been furloughed, or my fellow team members who can't wfh and are now on full pay.

It’s really unfortunate but your employer is actually your agency so you wouldn’t be entitled to furlough through your current work place. Your agency can offer you furlough and pay, but I know a lot are choosing not to as they don’t get anything from the government until June, and aren’t getting payment from their clients. You can always go back to your agency and ask them - there’s nothing to lose from that. Really sorry you are having this problem x

Thanks littlegoth. Yes, it sucks really. I was the only one in my team who wasn't a permanent employee. It's hard after being there for 3 years, feels like I've just been cut off. Still, there are so many people going through such tragedy and heartbreak at the moment, so it feels like a petty problem.

Your employer (the agency) can furlough you if they choose to. Have you asked them to?

I’m a temp worker via an agency and they have applied for furlough for me (for which I am hugely grateful!). They have said they can’t pay out until end of April - I think June payment is the scheme for the self employed however it’s tricky to get exact information as it’s such a new iniative.

Thanks, this is really helpful 😊
My contact's finished now though? I assume that the client (ie. my workplace) would have to start another contract, but they declined to extend my contract, so I'm not holding out much hope tbh....

That would be the reason your agency would furlough you. You remain employed by the agency despite the fact they have no work for you, and HMRC will refund the agency your pay, or rather 80% of it.

What the agency’s client is doing doesn’t matter- your employment relationship is with the agency.