Employment

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is the independent body which advises Government on the levels of the National Living Wage (NLW) and National Minimum Wage (NMW). To help shape the recommendations on the 2022 minimum wage rates, the Low Pay Commission is seeking evidence on the impact of the NLW and NMW. 

The consultation is seeking views on business conditions and the economic outlook, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the support measures the Government has implemented in response to it.

This includes:

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy launched a consultation on a proposal to extend the ban on exclusivity clauses to contracts where the workers’ guaranteed weekly income is less than the Lower Earnings Limit, currently £120 a week.

The intention is to allow low-income workers who are not able to secure the number of hours they would like from their current employer to seek additional work elsewhere.

The Department for Work and Pensions  launched a call for evidence on in-work progression, which is exploring barriers to progression specifically within the retail, hospitality, construction and care sectors. The Government’s ambition is to improve overall national productivity through aiding more individuals taking on good work at higher pay, particularly from these sectors.

This consultation aimed to gather evidence about whether the current laws on protecting people from sexual harassment in the workplace are effective.

Parental leave and pay

This section sets out high level options for reforming existing entitlements which could help parents to balance the gender division of parental leave.

Neonatal leave and pay

This section looks at proposals for a new leave and pay entitlement for parents of babies that require neonatal care after birth.

Transparency of flexible working and family related leave and pay policies

This consultation seeks views on:

• providing a right to reasonable notice of working hours
• providing workers with compensation for shifts cancelled without reasonable notice

It also seeks views on what guidance government can provide to support employers and encourage best practice to be shared across industries.

This consultation seeks views on different ways in which government and employers can take action to reduce ill health-related job loss. The consultation proposes to provide more low-paid workers with statutory sick pay looking at whether to reduce the threshold for statutory sick pay eligibility, flexibility of phased returns to work, and the possibility of offering small businesses a rebate who help employees return to work

This consultation seeks views on whether establishing a new single enforcement body for employment rights could:

• improve enforcement for vulnerable workers
• create a level playing field for the majority of businesses who are complying with the law

This consultation aims to gather evidence about whether the current laws on protecting people from sexual harassment in the workplace are effective.