The Government has yesterday (17 December) published a 'wide' range of measures designed to transform workers’ rights. These include a further response to the Taylor Review, a response to the Director of Labour Market Enforcement’s annual report, a consultation on the National Minimum Wage regulations and the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission on flexibility of working.
UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “These measures strike a balance between protecting workers’ rights and ensuring the highly-valued flexibility that exists in the UK. As ever, we need to see clear and unambiguous guidance from the Government to support businesses and ensure there are no accidental breaches to any new measures. The Government must also recognise that new measures will increase bureaucracy for businesses.
“Moves to amend the National Minimum Wage Regulations will do much to avoid accidental breaches and help employers supporting their employees through salary sacrifice schemes. We are also pleased to see our recommendations to the LPC have been heeded and a supplementary wage for non-contracted hours has not been taken forward. The Government’s package contains some pragmatic measures, but we are still concerned about plans to tackle ‘one-sided flexibility’ in the workplace. It is vital that guidance is clear so as to not undermine employer-employee relations regarding flexible working.”