Legislation/Regulation

Spring Budget: Lukewarm response from recruitment industry

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget has received a lukewarm response from recruitment bodies and others with interests in the sector.

7 March 2024

Recruiters and employers want changes to help hiring in Budget

Councils in England will be told to cut spending on consultants and diversity schemes when Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivers his Spring Budget on Wednesday, the BBC reports.

5 March 2024

Warning over new tax avoidance scheme exposed by HMRC

A complex tax avoidance scheme that moves income offshore has been exposed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) last Thursday [29 February 2024], with anyone who has joined the arrangement warned to get out of it as soon as possible.

5 March 2024
Headshot Frances Lewis

Business Advice: Will Labour ban zero-hours contracts?

If Labour wins the next election, will it ban zero-hour contracts and introduce day-one employment rights?

Legal, HR 4 March 2024
Business whistleblower the misconduct inside person to illegally disclose information to public concept, businessman blowing the whistle out load while pointing signal to tell other people.Image credit - iStock-1318429958

Recruiters marked out by ‘name and shame’ minimum wage list

Recruiters are among the businesses named by HMRC for failing to pay workers the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

4 March 2024
money composition on wooden table Image credit - iStock - 529272761

Loan charge scandal takes a new twist with s.684 notices

Highly controversial s.684 notices have added to the mire surrounding the Loan Charge.

4 March 2024

Government committee says HMRC ‘is apparently struggling to cope’

The government’s Public Accounts Committee has today [28 February 2024] launched a scathing report on HM Revenue & Customs’ 2022-23 performance.

HR 28 February 2024

Loan Charge crisis rumbles on with uncovering of new notices

The Loan Charge scandal has been engulfed by further condemnation, with the uncovering of the highly controversial s.684 notices yesterday by Sky News [20 February 2024] as politicians round on the crisis and call for a full investigation on the matter.

21 February 2024

14 recruitment companies make HMRC shame list

Staffline and Randstad Solutions are among the recruitment businesses named yesterday [20 February] by HMRC for failing to pay workers the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

21 February 2024

Calls for reform of Apprenticeship Levy in National Apprentice Week

Numerous big names in British business and academia are highlighting new opportunities in their organisations for apprentices during the UK’s National Apprentice Week, as calls continue for government reform of the Apprenticeship Levy.

Loan Charge debate gets muted response from government

An impassioned debate last Thursday [18 January 2024] about the Loan Charge and Tax Fairness in the House of Commons led to little reaction from the finance secretary to the Treasury, Nigel Huddleston.

23 January 2024

MPs to debate Loan Charge in House of Commons

The House of Commons will hold a debate on Thursday [18 January 2024] on the Loan Charge.

16 January 2024
Big-Ben Government - Credit: shutterstock - 112369760

Parliament to debate suffering caused by Loan Charge

The human cost of the controversial Loan Charge is to be discussed in Parliament.

16 January 2024

New migrant salary thresholds: necessary hardline or financial own goal for UK government?

Newly-proposed government changes to work immigration rules will cause significant difficulties for recruiters and employers, immigration lawyers have warned.

Social care, Legal 11 December 2023

Government guidance on engaging umbrella firms ‘basic at best’

The government has published guidance described by one commentator as “basic at best” for recruitment agencies, outlining responsibilities that employment businesses have when engaging umbrella companies.

Accounting/Finance 1 December 2023

Leicestershire care provider given slavery order from GLAA

The owner of a Leicestershire-based home care service provider has been handed a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order (STRO).

Public sector, Social care 29 November 2023

Recruiters and businesses await the chancellor’s Autumn Statement

The Autumn Statement later today will have financial implications for recruiters and businesses alike.

Retail, Social care 22 November 2023

GLAA suspends its brief on treatment of holiday pay

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) is suspending a new brief setting out a contentious position on the treatment of holiday pay and how to comply with their Licensing Standards.

13 November 2023

REC ‘disappointed’ on new consultation on using agency workers in strikes

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation has expressed “disappointment” at the government’s announcement of a consultation on removing the prohibition on use of agency workers in strikes.

Braverman appoints Lyons to vacant anti-slavery commissioner position

Eleanor Lyons, the current deputy children’s commissioner, has been appointed to take on the role of independent anti-slavery commissioner.

16 October 2023

Labour Party Conference: Labour details public spending plans for the workplace

SPCIAL TO RECRUITER: There were plenty of attention-grabbing moments at Labour’s party conference beyond a leader’s speech that literally sparkled.

13 October 2023

Dutch launch new law to protect temp workers

The Dutch government this week has proposed a new law to regulate the provision of temporary workers by intermediaries, such as employment agencies or payroll companies, including employers of record (EORs) and platforms.

HR 13 October 2023

New government programme offers refugees new work and integration skills

Refugees – including those from Syria, Iran, Eritrea and Sudan – can now apply to a new government programme to gain the skills they need to enter the UK job market and lead independent lives, the government has announced.

21 September 2023

Pensions and zero hours come into focus with new bills

Two employment-related bills have received Royal Assent this week, one affecting pensions and the other improving the rights of millions of workers to have a say over their working patterns.

21 September 2023

Fines to treble for rogue employers hiring illegal workers

Employers will face newly trebled fines of up to £60k for each worker they hire illegally under “the biggest shake-up since 2014” on penalties imposed on rogue employers and landlords.

Retail, Social care 7 August 2023
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