A number of changes to employment legislation come into effect this month. Changes include the annual increases in minimum wage rates, further rights for employees on maternity and adoption leave, and rights to statutory sick pay for agency workers on fixed-term contracts.
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations 2008 come into force during October. The Regulations apply to employees whose expected week of childbirth begins on or after 5 October, and provide women with the same terms and conditions during additional maternity leave as they have previously enjoyed during ordinary maternity leave. The Maternity and Parental Leave and Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2008 make comparable changes to adoption leave.
From 27 October agency workers employed under a fixed-term contract will have the right to statutory sick pay, in accordance with the draft Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) ( Amendment) Regulations 2008.
The National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2008 came into force on 1 October. The Regulations increase rates to:
- £5.73 up from £5.52 for workers aged 22 and over;
- £4.77 up from £4.60 for workers aged 18 to 21;and,
- £3.53 up from £3.40 for workers aged under 18 who are over compulsory school leaving age.
The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 also came into force on 1 October. The Regulations dictate that employers no longer have to keep their liability insurance certificates for 40 years nor display certificates at each place of business, if the certificate is available to the relevant employees electronically.
For more information on these legislation changes, or any other Employment matter, contact James Johnson on 01332 225 271 or by email james.johnson@smithpartnership.co.uk