What’s Coming Up in Employment Law

What’s Coming Up in Employment Law

Thursday 12 August, 2010

It has been confirmed that the majority of the Equality Act 2010 will come into force on 1 October 2010.  The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Code of Practice on Equal Pay (which will be read in line with the Equality Act) has now been approved and has been laid before Parliament.  Further Codes of Practice will be issued in due course.

Also there will be changes to the National Minimum Wage, which will increase from 1 October 2010.  The new hourly rates will be:

• Standard Adult Rate (workers aged over 21): £5.93 (an increase of 13p). 
• Development Rate (workers aged between 18 and 20): £4.92 (an increase of 9p). 
• Young Workers Rate (workers aged under 18 but above the compulsory school age who are not apprentices): £3.64 (an increase of 7p). 
• Apprentice Rate (workers under 19 years of age or those aged 19 and over but in the first year of their apprenticeship): £2.50 per hour (this is a new element of the National Minimum Wage.  All other apprentices who already receive the National Minimum Wage will continue to do so, at the rate according to their age). 
• Accommodation set off: £4.61 (increase of 10p).

Meanwhile, BIS has announced that the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (due to come into force on 1 October 2011) are under review.  Watch this space...