Temporary Visa Scheme for HGV Drivers & Poultry Workers
The UK is to make thousands of emergency temporary work visas available to address critical labour shortages in the haulage and food processing industries. Under the temporary visa scheme announced by the Government, a total of 10,500 three-month work permits will be issued by the Home Office, in an attempt to ‘save Christmas’ for Britains. […]
Workers May Be Given Right to Request Flexible Working From ‘Day 1’
UK workers could be given the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment, under new government proposals. The BBC has reported that the government is launching a consultation into the proposals over the coming days. Under the proposals, workers could become able to make a statutory request for flexible working from […]
‘Unlawful’ Mandatory COVID Vaccine Law Challenged By Care Home Workers
Care home workers are taking legal action against the UK government to overturn the mandatory COVID vaccine law. Two care home staff are pursuing a Judicial Review challenging the amendment to ‘The Health and Social Care Act 2008’ which will prevent individuals from entering a care home after 11 November 2021, unless they have been […]
New Children’s Privacy Design Code In Force
A new data protection code has taken effect in the UK designed to restrict and monitor online services accessed and used by children. The Age Appropriate Design Code, also referred to as the Children’s code, has been introduced by the UK ICO to make the internet a “better and safer place for children”. The code […]
One Month Countdown to End of Furlough Scheme
Employers currently claiming furlough support have only one month left until the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closes. Government financial contributions towards furloughed workers’ wages are due to end on 30 September 2021, when employers will be required to resume full responsibility for workers’ wages. During September, the government will contribute 60% of wages up to […]
New Mandatory Care Worker Vaccine Law Passed
New legislation requiring care home staff in England to have received the double Covid-19 vaccination comes into force on 11 November 2021. While other industries grapple with the employment, discrimination and even criminal implications of introducing ‘no-jab, no job policies’, the UK government has made the decision for the UK care sector by introducing a […]
Parliament Debates National Security and Investment Bill
The Government could be given new powers to scrutinise and intervene in M&A transactions deemed to raise national security concerns, under a draft Bill currently being debated in the House of Lords. The National Security and Investment Bill would introduce an independent screening regime in the UK where a transaction involving a change of control […]
IR35 Rules Now Apply to Private Sector
Changes to the IR35 rules on off-payroll working have come into force today, affecting medium and large organisations in the private sector that engage contractors. The off-payroll rules, which are already in place for public sector organisations, had been scheduled to be extended to the private sector from 6 April 2020. This date was then […]
Asda Workers Win Latest Round In Equal Pay Battle
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of 44,000 Asda supermarket workers in the latest stage of their equal pay challenge. Asda store workers are arguing they are being paid less because most store workers are women, while most distribution depot staff are men. The court upheld previous rulings that lower paid shop workers are […]
UK & EU Agree Financial Services Deal
The UK and EU have come to an agreement on post-Brexit financial services regulations. In a statement on 26 March 2021, HM Treasury announced the deal, which would see a new regulatory forum being created between the UK and the EU. The forum will comprise a minister from the UK and their equivalent from the […]
UK Government Plans Data Protection Reform
Reform of the UK’s data protection regime is being planned, according to Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden. The UK Government is pledging to overhaul existing rules, including the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to “allow information to flow more freely and drive growth in the digital economy” now that the UK has left the EU. […]
Furlough Scheme Further Extended to September
The UK Chancellor has confirmed in the 2021 Budget that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be further extended until September 2021. The furlough scheme has been subject to earlier extensions. Most recently, it had been scheduled to end in April, following a planned phase out as government contributions were set to decrease gradually in the […]
8 New Freeports Set to Launch in England in 2021
Eight new freeport sites are to be launched later this year in England. The sites will be at East Midlands Airport, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Humber, Plymouth, Thames, Teesside, and Solent. Freeports are international gateways offering a number of benefits to businesses operating on the sites, including “more generous tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and wider government […]
Supreme Court Rules Uber Drivers Are ‘Workers’
The Supreme Court has upheld earlier courts’ rulings in a landmark decision that confirms Uber drivers are ‘workers’ and not self-employed subcontractors. The Court unanimously upheld a 2016 Employment Tribunal decision that said drivers are in a “position of subordination and dependancy to Uber“. While the decision relates to a limited number of drivers who […]
New food labelling guidance issued ahead of Natasha’s Law
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued detailed guidance for companies on new labelling laws coming into force in 2021. Under Natasha’s Law, allergen labelling rules will become a legal requirement on all ‘prepacked for direct sale’ food, with labels on affected products required to state all ingredient and allergen information. This includes food that […]
P2B Regulation Takes Effect in EU & UK
Online platforms and search engines are now operating under new rules designed to promote fairness and transparency for their business users. The Platform to Business Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 (P2B Regulation) took effect in the UK and EU member states on 12 July 2020. The new rules apply to online intermediation services and search engines based […]
Licensing Law Changes Expected To Boost Crisis Recovery
Pubs, restaurants and cafes are expected to be allowed to provide food and drink outdoors in a change to licensing laws designed to support businesses through the coronavirus crisis. The changes would see every pub, bar and restaurant automatically given permission to serve alcohol for people to drink on the pavement and in the street. […]
Supreme Court Rules Against Visa & Mastercard Over Swipe Fees
Two of the world’s largest credit card companies have suffered another defeat in a long-running legal dispute with supermarket chains over interchange fees. The UK’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc., affirming a lower court ruling that the mandated payments restricted competition. The Court was unanimous in upholding the decision […]
New Deal Expected To Simplify & Speed Up Planning Process
MPs are said to be considering the introduction of new development zones with relaxed rules and further permitted development (PD) rights as part of a ‘New Deal’ for planning. In a publication launched by the Policy Exchange think tank, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick laid out a vision to “rethink planning” and “speed up and simplify […]
Late Author’s Family Win Back Watership Down IP Rights
The family of the late Richard Adams have been awarded the rights to the author’s novel Watership Down. The High Court has ruled found in favour of Watership Downs Enterprises, the estate and family of Adams, against the US director of the 1978 animation, Martin Rosen. Rosen, who owned the motion picture rights to Watership […]