New Employment Bill: More information

The Employment Bill 2001 has been published. If enacted, it is likely that its provisions will come into force from April 2003, including the following:

 - six months' paid maternity leave (plus six months' unpaid) and two weeks' paid paternity leave 
 - an increase in Statutory Maternity Pay from £62 per week to £100 per week
 - reimbursement of maternity, paternity and adoptive payments (with small employers receiving 100% reimbursement plus an additional bonus payment) 
 - amendments to Tribunal compensation rules to encourage internal dispute resolution
 - new fixed periods for conciliation of disputes to encourage early settlement
 - a new fast track procedure for Employment Tribunal claims
 - a right to paid time off work for union learning representatives
 - a questionnaire procedure in Equal Pay cases (similar to discrimination questionnaires)
 - a power for the Secretary of State to introduce regulations protecting fixed-term workers

The full text of the Bill can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/employ/index.htm. Employers should ensure that they review their policies and procedures in preparation for the proposed changes.  

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