The launch of the Government's auto-enrolment scheme starts today. Every employer will now have a legal duty to automatically enrol workers into a qualifying workplace pension scheme and make contributions towards it. Click here for the full story.
The Equality Act 2010 includes provisions enabling a ban on age discrimination against adults in the provision of services and public functions. The ban is to be implemented today. This month also see the end of the default retirement age. Click here for the full story.
Today marks the first anniversary of Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), aimed at improving employment terms and conditions for agency workers in the UK. Click here for the full story.
The national minimum wage increases today from £6.08 to £6.19.
The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE)'s new cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention (FFI), means those who break health and safety laws are liable for recovery of HSE's related costs, including, inspection, investigation and taking enforcement action. The HSE cost recovery scheme is called Fee for Intervention (FFI).
HSE chief executive, Geoffery Podger, said: "The most basic safety mistakes in the workplace can devastate lives and result in real costs to industry.
Richard Jones, head of policy and public affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), agrees: "Cost recovery in principle is a good move, as a way of transferring enforcement costs from the tax-payer to the transgressor.
"If businesses do the right thing and protect their workforce, they'll avoid cost recovery. But, if the law is disregarded, then businesses will pay the price. This will potentially help to create a level playing field for all and support the business case for health and safety compliance."
HSE will review how FFI is working after the first 12 months of operation, and again within three years of the regime coming into effect.
