Legislation/Regulation

Recommendations for better integration to support refugees into work

The current integration of refugees system is “broken, expensive, inefficient and damaging” for both refugees and the UK, according to the chair of the Commission on the Integration of Refugees.

26 March 2024

IPS faces £900k penalty for failing to co-operate with HMRC

A tax avoidance promoter whose schemes were used by locum doctors and nurses faces a £900k penalty for failing to co-operate with HM Revenue & Customs, the tax authority announced today [22 March 2024].

Loan Charge campaigners ‘frustrated’ as HMRC ‘airbrushes’ history

The Loan Charge Action Group (LCAG) has reinforced its calls for a parliamentary inquiry as the loan charge continues to weigh heavily on Westminster.

19 March 2024

£60m funding as Sunak goes big on apprenticeships

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled a raft of reforms aimed at increasing apprenticeship numbers and doing away with red tape for small businesses.

Retail, IT/Telecoms 19 March 2024

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

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

Agency staff cannot fill in for striking workers says High Court

The High Court has ruled this morning [13 July 2023] that employers can no longer use agency staff to fill in for striking workers during industrial action.

Legal 13 July 2023

Worker education for contractors needed, umbrella industry tells government

Educating contractors and freelancers was a major theme for companies submitting comment to the current government consultation, it emerged on Tuesday at the FCSA Forum in Manchester.

13 July 2023

Man sentenced for human trafficking and modern slavery offences

A Romanian man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to human trafficking, forced labour and exploitation offences.

Legal 11 July 2023

Critical issues in digital hiring

An end-to-end digital hiring experience raises issues of exclusion and dangers from AI. Sue Weekes investigates.

Employers must audit bias in AI hiring tools in New York City

A new law in one part of the US that regulates the use of AI in hiring is only now being enforced.

Legal, IT/Telecoms 6 July 2023

Government calls for industry input on umbrella consultation

The government has this week published a consultation on policy options to regulate umbrella companies and to tackle non-compliance in the umbrella company market.

7 June 2023

Consultation to clean up umbrella industry needs more work, says industry

While generally welcoming the latest government consultation around umbrella companies, voices in the recruitment and umbrella sector have also issued warnings about possible pitfalls that could result.

7 June 2023

REC calls proposed NI agency social workers ban 'badly thought out'

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) is calling for urgent clarity on a proposed ‘ban’ on agency social workers in Northern Ireland, a plan the trade body called “badly thought out”.

Public sector, Social care 1 June 2023

GLAA signs landmark agreements with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan to further protect workers

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has signed agreements with the governments of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to strengthen the protections for workers arriving in the UK.

Agriculture 30 May 2023

Amazon launches school holiday flexible contracts for full-time staff

Amazon has launched a new contract that offers parents, grandparents and guardians of school-age children the choice to work term-time only.

REC urges Badenoch to consult with business over new employment legislation

The government has halted plans to ditch all remaining EU laws by the end of the year and is taking a more focused approach to reform.

16 May 2023

Government plans to reduce regulation for businesses

Business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch MP has announced an initial package of regulatory reform that she says “will reduce unnecessary regulation for businesses, cutting costs and allowing them to compete”.

11 May 2023
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