Legislation/Regulation

Parliament deals final blow to anti-IR35 private sector roll-out

It’s full steam ahead now for the April 2021 roll-out to the private sector of the Off-Payroll rules, following Parliament’s acceptance yesterday [1 July 2020] of the Finance Bill.

2 July 2020

SSP rebate rules hit temp agencies unfairly

Temp recruitment agencies are unfairly affected by the Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rebate rules.

Transport & logistics, Industrial/Manufacturing 2 July 2020

Airswift welcomes ‘positive’ fair employment licence changes in Singapore

New licence conditions being introduced for employment agencies in Singapore to promote fair hiring “are a positive change”, according to Airswift’s president for Asia.

Oil & gas/Energy, Engineering 30 June 2020

PM serves up good news for hospitality recruitment

The reopening of England’s restaurants and pubs from 4 July has been hailed as “brilliant” by one hospitality recruiter.

Hospitality/Leisure 25 June 2020

GLAA officers check up on farm workers in Cambridgeshire

The Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) is continuing its efforts to ensure regulations are followed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Agriculture 25 June 2020

IR35 reforms for private sector set for April

Private sector IR35 reforms are set for roll-out in April 2021 with MPs’ approval of amendments to the Finance Bill.

23 June 2020

HMRC sensitive to Covid-19 difficulties but business as usual with tax

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are still amenable to working with taxpayers who are experiencing Covid-19 related difficulties to iron out workable solutions.

1 June 2020

Workplace disputes will rise due to Test and Trace warns employment lawyer

The government’s new Test and Trace system could contribute to a rise in workplace disputes, an employment lawyer at law firm Irwin Mitchell has warned.

29 May 2020

Call for visa route for ‘independent professionals’

A dedicated visa route is needed for independent professionals or skilled talent.

21 May 2020

IR35 amendment fails to get delay in Parliament but battle continues

An amendment tabled in Parliament yesterday failed to delay the implementation of IR35 Off-Payroll Tax rules for the private sector until 2023.

20 May 2020

Parliament debates delay to IR35 legislation

All eyes from the contractor community will be on Parliament today in anticipation of another round of activity around controversial IR35 legislation included in the Finance Bill.

19 May 2020

GLAA visits farms to give support during Covid-19 crisis

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) will be visiting all agricultural labour sites in the South of England and Wales over the coming weeks as part of ongoing support during the coronavirus crisis.

Agriculture, Industrial/Manufacturing 19 May 2020

SME employers can claim coronavirus-related SSP from HMRC

A new online service will launch for small and medium-sized employers to recover Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees, the government has announced today.

19 May 2020

Chancellor extends CJRS to October but with added flexibility

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has extended the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), due to finish at the end of June, to October.

12 May 2020

Office openings could open employers up to legal disputes

Employers need to be aware of legal risks lurking in their workspaces, a specialist law firm is warning.

12 May 2020

Refs blow whistle on HMRC’s understanding of IR35 status rules

Judges have called into question HM Revenue & Customs’ employment test of what constitutes a self-employed worker by rejecting an appeal by the government tax body.

Hospitality/Leisure 7 May 2020

REC demands extension of business rate relief for Scottish employment agencies

The Scottish government must extend Covid-19-related business rate relief to recruitment agencies and other businesses not currently offered a discount, says the REC’s national account manager for Scotland.

7 May 2020

Recruitment industry asks for definitive guidance on holiday pay

Definitive guidance on the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) promised by the government cannot come soon enough for the UK’s temporary worker sector.

28 April 2020

Government ‘committed’ to rolling out IR35 reforms to private sector next year

The government has affirmed it is “fully committed” to implementing the extension of IR35 off-payroll working reforms to the private sector in April 2021.

28 April 2020

Lords call on government to rethink IR35 private sector extension

“A wholesale reform of IR35” is required, a House of Lords sub-committee has said in a report published today [27 April 2020] following an inquiry into the off-payroll working taxation rules.

27 April 2020

Funding Circle advert slammed for not including personal guarantee information

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint against financial services company Funding Circle for not including in a TV ad that a personal guarantee was required to take out a loan if individuals were associated with a limited company.

Marketing, Accounting/Finance 15 April 2020

HMRC suspends tax enquiries to businesses under investigation

HMRC is suspending enquiries into taxpayers and businesses that are under investigation, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, news reports revealed today.

14 April 2020

Industry criticises publication of Home Office immigration guidelines

Home Office guidelines published today concerning the UK’s new points-based immigration system has sparked criticism from businesses and the recruitment sector.

9 April 2020

REC welcomes business rate relief for staffing firms

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has welcomed a business rate discount for employment businesses but has also warned against continuing to charge Apprenticeship Levy on furloughed workers.

7 April 2020

‘Further clarity’ on public sector contractor assignments

The government has given new guidance on public sector contractor assignments over the weekend.

Public sector 6 April 2020