Legislation | Page 6

Can HMRC reforms solve liability issues between agency and umbrellas?

Cautious optimism has greeted the emergence of a potential solution for liability within incoming tax reforms to the umbrella industry and recruitment agency users.

13 June 2025

Employment tribunal claims on the rise compared to previous year

The latest Employment Tribunal Statistics have been published this week.

Legal, HR 13 June 2025

Minister tells recruiters about ‘road map’ for Employment Rights Bill at RECLive25

The government plans to issue a ‘road map’ for implementing the Employment Rights Bill (ERB), currently working its way through the House of Lords.

12 June 2025

Recruitment industry voices say little detail on workforce from the Chancellor

Recruitment industry observers have criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s failure to move the UK ahead in specific commitments to workforce issues.

Social care, Transport & logistics 12 June 2025

REC CEO hits back at government cuts to agency spend

Government calls to eliminate agency spend at the NHS have received a fiery response from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation.

Public sector, Social care 3 June 2025

Government health leaders threaten ‘rip-off temporary staffing agencies’

NHS trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs) are being urged by government health leaders to eradicate agency spending to build on a £1bn fall in spending in 2024-25.

Public sector, Social care 3 June 2025

£1.5bn defence spending will create highly-skilled jobs in the UK

The UK government is to create more than 1,000 new jobs as a result of a £1.5bn defence investment.

Public sector, Engineering 2 June 2025

Government’s apprenticeship budget refocuses to ‘rebuild Britain’

The government has made radical changes to skills and training, including a refocus away from higher-level apprenticeship funding.

Engineering, Construction & property 27 May 2025

HMRC threatens individual with Stop Notice

In the first Stop Notices case of its kind, HMRC has threatened an individual with prosecution if they promote tax avoidance schemes.

15 May 2025

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

Government decision not to appeal strike legislation ‘common sense’ says REC

It has emerged that the government will not appeal the High Court’s recent decision to repeal legislation that allowed agency workers to fill in for striking workers.

28 July 2023

More flexibility for workers thanks to new employment bill

Millions of British workers will have more flexibility over where and when they work as the Flexible Working Bill achieves Royal Assent.

21 July 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

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

New parliamentary group launches to improve UK standards in recruitment

An All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on modernising employment and hiring has launched in the UK Parliament.

30 May 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.

Retail, Transport & logistics 30 May 2023

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