March 2024: New Provisions In Force Under Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023
In late October 2023, the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) was enacted, marking a significant reform in company law and the most substantial overhaul in the history of Companies House. The implementation of ECCTA’s measures will be phased and are contingent upon the enactment of secondary legislation. 1. New Provisions Effective From […]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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 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 […]
UK Should Not Allow Remote Driving from Overseas: Law Commission
The remote operation of a car within the United Kingdom from outside the country should be prohibited, according to a report by government advisory group, the Law Commission. The report also states that remote-controlled cars are now a “legal grey area”, and draws attention to there being no specific requirement by law in the UK for the […]
Law Proposed for Mandatory Workplace Mental Health First Aid Training
Parliament has been presented with a new Bill that would make it compulsory for employers to provide training in mental health first aid. The Bill was presented by Tory MP Dean Russell, who said the change would enable more individuals to recognise the early warning signals of mental health problems in the workplace. He said mandating […]
Former UK Twitter Employees Threaten Legal Action for Unfair Dismissal
Dozens of former Twitter employees in the UK are preparing to bring legal action against the tech giant for unfair dismissal. A letter seen by the Financial Times was sent to Twitter on 10 January by law firm Winckworth Sherwood on behalf of 43 former Twitter employees, claiming “unlawful, unfair and completely unacceptable treatment” to […]
New UK Laws For 2023
What new laws are set to be introduced in the UK in 2023? We summarise the key legislative changes for the year ahead. Removal of EU law When the UK left the EU in 2020 all the EU laws were effectively changed into British law to allow for as smooth a transition as possible. The […]