Regulations update
Published
07th Dec 2006
by akesha
A number of new regulations came into effect on 1 October 2006. You should be well aware of them by now, but just in case, here is an update:
Age Discrimination
The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 protects workers of all ages from discrimination in the workplace. They:- End discrimination in terms of recruitment, promotion and training
- Ban unjustified retirement ages below 65
- Remove the current age limits for unfair dismissal and redundancy rights.
National Minimum Wage
The National Minimum Wage has been increased and the following hourly rates now apply:- Employees aged 22 and over – £5.35
- Employees aged between 18 and 21 – £4.45
- Employees aged 16 and 17 – £3.30.
Work and Families
Changes under the Work and Families Act:- Statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance and statutory adoption pay increases from six months to nine months for babies due on or after 1 April 2007. It will also apply to adoption placements that begin from that date
- Mothers will need to give two months’ notice, instead of one, if they want to change the date they return to work after maternity leave
- Ten ‘keeping in touch’ days have been introduced to allow mothers to go into work and stay in touch with developments and training, without bringing their maternity leave to an end or losing out on maternity pay
- The administration of maternity payments for employers has been simplified
- The eligibility for additional maternity leave to all pregnant employees where births are due on or after 1 April 2007 has been extended.
Fire Safety
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a greater emphasis on fire prevention and renders all existing fire certificates void. The new regulations also:- Require a risk assessment of the premises by a ‘responsible person’. The results must be recorded (for businesses with five or more employees) and any recommendations implemented
- Require staff to be trained in fire safety
- Transfer responsibility for enforcement to the local fire authority.
