What's New

A joint initiative by the CBI, TUC, DfES and DTI

In May 2007, the CBI, TUC, the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Trade and Industry launched a joint project to produce best practice guidance, helping employers, employees and trade unions develop workplace dialogue on training and skills. The four parties aim to publish the guidance in autumn 2007, after assembling evidence from a range of other organisations and experts.

Guidance to encourage workplace dialogue on training and skills

National minimum wage and voluntary workers

In January 2007, the government announced that it was carrying out a review of the provisions in the National Minimum Wage Act 1998 that relate to voluntary workers. This consultation has now been published.

Consultation on the National Minimum Wage and voluntary workers

Increasing the holiday entitlement - Government Response to the consultation

The Government published on 12 June 2007 its response to the further consultation on Increasing the Holiday Entitlement (see Related Documents), the same day that regulations were laid in Parliament. The Parliamentary process is now on-going and we hope that the regulations will be approved by Parliament by the end of June, to give three months notice of the changes.
Government response to the Increasing the Holiday Entitlement consultation

The judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the ASLEF v UK Case: implications for Trade Union law

The European Court of Human Rights issued a judgment in the case of Aslef v The United Kingdom on 27 February 2007. The case concerns the freedom of trade unions under GB law to expel or exclude individuals on the grounds of their political party membership, and the Court concluded that the relevant part of GB law violated Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This consultation document sets out the options considered by the Government to amend British law to comply with the Court's judgment and poses three questions which respondents are asked to address.
Consultation on the European Court of Human Rights judgement

Consultation on National Minimum Wage and Employment Agency Standards Enforcement

This consultation focuses on measures to promote compliance and improve fairness both for workers and compliant businesses. We are proposing a new strategy to deal with cases of underpayment of the NMW, based on a fairer way of dealing with arrears, and a simpler, more effective penalty regime to deter non compliance. We are also consulting on strengthening the penalties regime for offences committed against employment agency legislation and clearer investigative powers for the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.
Consultation on National Minimum Wage and Employment Agency Standards Enforcement

Consultation on the administration of Additional Paternity Leave and Pay

The Work and Families Act 2006 allows for the introduction of a new scheme that will provide certain employees (generally fathers) with a new entitlement to take leave to care for a child in its first year. This will allow the father to be absent from work for a maximum of 26 weeks, and he will be entitled to receive pay whilst on leave, if certain conditions are met. This consultation is on the administration of the scheme.
Consultation on the administration of Additional Paternity Leave and Pay

Increase of Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay

From 1 April 2007 the standard rate of Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay is increased to £112.75 per week, or 90% of average weekly earnings if that is less than £112.75.
The new rate applies to any payment week starting on or after 1 April. 
Work and Families page

Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) - A Guide to the 2006 TUPE Regulations for Employees, Employers and Representatives

Part 3 of the Guidance has been amended to make it clear that changes to contracts which are entirely positive are not prevented by the Regulations. 

Acas Regional Briefing Events On Flexible Working For Carer's Of Adults Plus New Employers Information Pack

The new right to request flexible working for carers of adults – what you need to know.  
Acas Regional Briefing Events On Flexible Working For Carer's Of Adults

Resolving Disputes in the workplace - A Consultation - March 2007

This consultation sets out a package of measures for taking forward the recommendations of the Gibbons review of employment dispute resolution. 
Consultation on Resolving Disputes in the Workplace

Clergy Working Group - 20 March 2007

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) set up the Clergy Working Group in 2004 to look at clergy working conditions as part of its review of employment status issues. 
Statement of good practice for faith groups

National Minimum Wage will increase again from 1 October 2007 as follows:

Adult rate (workers aged 22 and over) will increase to £5.52
Development rate for 18-21 year olds will increase to £4.60
Development rate for 16-17 year olds will increase to £3.40
The rate for the accomodation offset will increase to £30.10 per week (£4.30 per day).

Consultation on measures to protect vulnerable agency workers

This consultation aims to gather views from interested parties and those who may be affected by the proposed changes to the Conduct Regulations to increase protection for vulnerable agency workers and reduce information burdens. 
Consultation on measures to protect vulnerable agency workers

Working in the UK: Know your rights and where to get help leaflets

The UK Government is keen to ensure that migrant workers coming to the UK are aware of their employment rights and responsibilities.  
Information for migrant workers

Increasing the Holiday Entitlement – A further consultation

DTI have announced a further consultation on Increasing the holiday entitlement, to follow on from the initial one concluded in September last year.  The new consultation includes draft regulations and further details on how the Government proposes to implement the manifesto commitment to make paid time off for bank holidays additional to the four weeks’ holiday entitlement.  We are also publishing the results of research into those most likely to benefit. The research shows that 6 million people will benefit from increased holiday entitlements as a result of these proposals. 
Further consultation on increasing the holiday entitlement

National Minimum Wage Enforcement - Penalty Notice Policy

In January 2007, the Government announced a policy to consistently fine employers who have paid their workers below the National Minimum Wage, and defaulted on an official demand (an enforcement notice) to repay arrears. This document outlines the policy to do this through the issue of penalty notices:

Review Of Workplace Representatives Facilities And Facility Time

In June 2006, the Government launched a review of the facilities and facility time provided to workplace representatives. This consultation document provides the first findings of that review.
Consultation on workplace representatives: a review of their facilities and facility time - January 2007