Employment law changes to get fixed dates

From next year employment law changes will come into force on fixed dates in the year. These will be announced by the government each January.

The TUC supports the move although it has some concerns, particularly in relation to how European law changes would be dealt with.

The fixed dates have been proposed to make it easier for workers and employers to keep up-to-date with developments.

This year there were legal changes in February and in April but more are anticipated in July, August and December (see box).

The government says that laws instigated solely by the UK parliament in future should come into force either on 6 April or 1 October each year.

The government is trying to negotiate arrangements for European law changes, so that it would also be possible to include them in either the April or October dates in the relevant year.

Employment law implementation dates

Employment law change Implementation date

Employment protection payments 1 February 2003

Equal pay question forms 6 April 2003

Young workers' working hours 6 April 2003

Rights to request flexible work 6 April 2003

New maternity, paternity and adoption rights 6 April 2003

New rights in race discrimination cases 19 July 2003

Extension of working time regulations 1 August 2003

National minimum wage increases 1 October 2003

Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation 1 December 2003

Discrimination on grounds of religion or belief 2 December 2003

Time off rights for union learning representatives Date to be announced in 2003