Child Maintenance Service Application Fee to be Waived
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is to scrap the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) application fee from 26 February 2024. Anyone with children under 16 (or under 20 if they are still in full-time education) can use the government’s CMS to arrange child maintenance payments if a financial arrangement cannot be made by the […]
New Ban on Disposable Vapes
Disposable vapes are to be banned in the UK, under new laws proposed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. It is already illegal to sell any vape to anyone under 18, but the government said disposable vapes – often sold in smaller, more colourful packaging than refillable ones – are a “key driver behind the alarming […]
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 […]
Immigration Health Surcharge to Increase No Earlier Than 16 January 2024
Following publication of the Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023, it has been confirmed that the UK’s Immigration Health Surcharge will increase no earlier than 16 January 2024. The Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2023 is the draft legislation that will implement the fee changes. According to the draft, the increases will take effect between 16 January 2024 and […]
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 […]
New Smoking Law to Create Smoke-Free Generation
The UK government will create a “smoke-free generation” by ending cigarette sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed plans to introduce a new law to stop children who turn 14 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes in England. In a statement on […]
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 […]
Costs Cap on Lower-Value Medical Negligence Claims from April 2024
Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims from April 2024, the Department of Health has announced. The new system of fixed recoverable costs will limit the amount claimant solicitors can charge when advising on clinical negligence cases of £25,000 or less. In a statement announcing the new rules, Minister for Health, […]
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 […]
Latest Home Office Changes to Immigration Rules
The Home Office has published a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 1780, 7 September 2023. The new rules cover a broad range of areas, most of which are technical in nature. The vast majority of changes take effect on 5 October 2023. The key changes are as follows: Prison workers […]
UK ETA Travel Permit Guide
The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme is opening in 2023, as part of the government’s new universal “permission to travel” requirement. Under the new scheme, certain travellers, including non-visa nationals and Creative Worker visa holders, travelling to the UK will have to secure authorisation in advance of travel by completing an online form and paying […]
Visiting Rights to Legally Become Part of Health & Care Settings
New secondary legislation is set to be introduced giving the legal right for visits in health and care settings. Under plans announced by the Department of Health and Social Care, visiting is to become a legal requirement for hospitals, care homes, mental health units and other health and care settings. The move follows Labour MP […]
New Economic Crime Bill Amendment Tackles SLAPPs
The UK government has announced new legislation to prevent large corporations and wealthy individuals from hindering investigative journalism and free speech using so-called SLAPP (strategic litigation against public participation) claims. Under the proposed amendments to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, judges will be given new powers to dismiss claims deemed to have been brought […]
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 […]
Government set to stop student visa holders bringing family members to UK
The UK Government has announced visa changes that will prevent most international students from being able to bring family members with them to the UK as dependants. A joint statement issued by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and Education Secretary, Michelle Keegan, on 23 May 2023 stated that the UK’s student dependent visa is to […]