IoD Publishes Proposed Code of Conduct for Directors

IoD Publishes Proposed Code of Conduct for Directors

The Institute of Directors has released a consultation document on a proposed Code of Conduct for Directors. The Code aims to serve as a practical tool to aid directors in making improved decisions. It also offers organisational leaders a behavioural framework designed to build and sustain public trust in their business operations. The document was […]

Consultation to Relax Non-Financial Reporting for Medium-Sized Companies

Consultation to Relax Non-Financial Reporting for Medium-Sized Companies

The Government is currently consulting on proposed changes to the UK’s non-financial reporting regime, which aim to reduce the burden on medium-sized companies. A company qualifies as “medium-sized” in a financial year if it meets at least two of the following three criteria: a. Annual turnover exceeding £10.2m but not more than £36m. b. Balance […]

Draft Legislation to Protect Residential Addresses on Companies House

Draft Legislation to Protect Residential Addresses on Companies House

The Government has released draft regulations aimed at enhancing the protection of individuals’ usual residential addresses (URA) from being publicly accessible at Companies House. Under the new regulations, individuals would be allowed to suppress their URA from public view if it has previously been used as a company’s registered office address, a provision not currently […]

Companies House Issues Draft Rules for Director ID Verification

Companies House Issues Draft Rules for Director ID Verification

Companies House has unveiled draft rules concerning the identity verification of directors, persons with significant control (PSCs), and others under forthcoming changes. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 amended the Companies Act 2006 and the Limited Partnerships Act 1907, introducing requirements for certain individuals to verify their identity. This applies to individual directors […]

Sponsor Licence Renewals Abolished from April 2024

The requirement for UK sponsors to renew their sponsor licence every four years is being abolished from April 2024, under new Home Office rules. In light of the changes, UK sponsor licences expiring on or after 6 April 2024 are now being automatically extended by 10 years. Licences that are automatically extended will not end […]

Company Law Reform: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act Now In Force

Company Law Reform: Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act Now In Force

After passing through parliament, the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act has now become law. The Act aims to enhance measures against economic crime and increase transparency of corporate entities. It follows the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022, which enabled the government to impose sanctions more rapidly, established a register of overseas entities […]

ACAS Opens Consultation on Predictable Working

ACAS has launched a public consultation on its draft code of practice for responding to requests for a predictable work schedule. The draft statutory code outlines the procedures that employers must follow when responding to requests for more consistent working schedules or hours. These procedures include the practical considerations employers should take into account when […]

Care Workers Permitted to Pursue Unfair Dismissal Claim for Refusing Covid Jab

Carers given one week unpaid leave under new law

Three care workers who refused to have the Covid-19 vaccine have been given permission to continue their claims for unfair dismissal. Ms Dimitrova, Ms Chadwick and Ms Hussain were employed by UK care home provider Barchester Healthcare, which implemented a ‘no jab, no job’ policy within the organisation in 2021. The policy was in effect […]

MAC Recommends Reforms of UK Shortage Occupation List

legal services for individuals

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has published its latest review of the UK’s Shortage Occupation List (SOL). The review was originally commissioned in August 2022 and covers information from the MAC’s own research as well as input from wider stakeholder engagement through its Call for Evidence. In the report, published on 3 October 2023, the MAC […]

ICO Issues New Guidance on Workforce Monitoring

Executor not communicating with beneficiaries

The UK’s data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), has issued new guidance for employers on monitoring workers and how this interacts with data protection. The guidance, “Employment practices and data protection − Monitoring workers“, highlights the imperative for employers to balance their legal obligations and their workers’ rights when implementing workforce monitoring. The new […]

New Right for Workers to Request Predictable Working Patterns in 2024

A new law designed to give workers on flexible or casual contracts more predictable working patterns has received Royal Assent. The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023, which is expected to come into force in Summer 2024, will afford workers such as temporary workers and those on zero hour contracts a new statutory right […]

Electronic Trade Documents Act Takes Effect

Electronic Trade Documents Act Takes Effect

The Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA) takes effect today, 20 September 2023. Implementing detailed recommendations made by the Law Commission of England and Wales, the new law paves the way for the greater digitalisation of trade procedures by giving digital versions of key trade documents – including bills of lading – the same legal recognition as […]

Increases Across UK Home Office Application Fees from 4 October 2023

UK Visa

The Home Office has announced increases in UK visa, settlement and nationality fees that will take effect from 4 October 2023. The increases cover a wide range of applications, across UK entry clearance, indefinite leave to enter, indefinite leave to remain and applications for leave to remain in the UK such as many work and […]

CMA Increases Reward for Cartel Informants to up to £250,000

CMA Increases Reward for Cartel Informants to up to £250,000

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is enhancing its enforcement efforts against illegal cartels by offering a reward of up to £250,000, up from £100,000, to individuals who report illegal cartel activity. Illegal cartels, which consist of businesses agreeing not to compete in order to keep their prices high, prevent consumers and other businesses from […]

UK Won’t Replace Retained EU Laws By End Of 2023

UK Won't Replace Retained EU Laws By End Of 2023

The UK Government has announced it will not be proceeding with plans to ‘sunset’ provisions in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) (REUL) Bill. The REUL Bill was introduced under Liz Truss and Jacob Rees-Mogg with the intention of removing all EU legislation from the UK by the end of 2023. If enacted, the […]

New Duty on Sponsors to Report Hybrid Working

New Duty on Sponsors to Report Hybrid Workers

Under a new Home Office requirement, UK sponsor licence holders must now notify when a sponsored worker is being, or will be, engaged under a hybrid working pattern on a more permanent basis. During COVID, the Home Office placed no obligation on sponsors to inform the Home Office when a sponsored worker was working remotely […]

Minimum Wage Increase from 1st April

Flexible Working Request

The UK’s minimum wage has increased today, 1 April 2023. The minimum wage levels are as follows: NMW rate NMW rate National Living Wage (23+) £10.42 21-22 Year Old Rate £10.18 18-20 Year Old Rate £7.49 16-17 Year Old Rate £5.28 Apprentice Rate £5.28 Accommodation Offset £9.10                 […]

New UK Minimum Wage for International Seafarers

New UK Minimum Wage for International Seafarers

New legislation is now in force from today imposing a minimum wage for international seafarers working in the UK. Under the Seafarers’ Wages Act, shipping lines operating at UK ports must now pay seafarers at least the UK’s prevailaing minimum wage, regardless of the nationality of the crew or operator. As of 1 July 2022, […]

New Data Protection and Digital Information Bill Set to Replace GDPR

New Data Protection and Digital Information Bill Set to Replace

New data protection legislation for the UK that will replace the EU’s GDPR has been put before Parliament by Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan. The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill aims to reduce the financial and administrative burdens of the current regulations on British businesses, remove barriers to international trade and cut the number of […]