Legislation/Regulation

Industry rounds on government for no Employment Bill

Voices across the recruitment, employment, umbrella and compliance landscape have almost unanimously rounded on the government for failing to deliver an Employment Bill within the Queen’s Speech yesterday [10 May 2022].

11 May 2022

REC letter to health minister calls for equal treatment for NHS agency workers

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) is calling for equal treatment of NHS agency workers with NHS staff.

Public sector, Social care 28 April 2022

Freelance workers see no advantage in using umbrella companies

A report from the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) reveals interesting findings from freelancers.

25 April 2022

Fresh HMRC investigations into MSC legislation could leave recruiters exposed

HM Revenue & Customs has issued letters to more than 1,000 contractors, who it believes have breached the Managed Service Company (MSC) legislation.

13 April 2022

Firms save thousands on hiring veterans by claiming NI relief

Businesses that take on UK veterans will save thousands through National Insurance (NI) relief.

Legal, HR 13 April 2022

HMRC names and shames tax avoidance schemes

Tax avoidance schemes have been named for the first time by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) on the government agency’s website.

HR 11 April 2022

Parliamentary group asks for impact assessment on Loan Charge

The Loan Charge and Taxpayer Fairness APPG has launched a call for evidence about the impact of the Loan Charge, whether respondents face the charge now or have settled with HM Revenue & Customs to avoid it.

16 March 2022

FCSA investigates member JSA over allegations of withholding holiday pay

The Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) is investigating allegations that one of the largest umbrella companies inappropriately withheld a contractor’s holiday pay.

16 March 2022

Jobseeker banned from employment tribunals for ‘vexatious’ claims

A jobseeker who was a serial claimant has been handed indefinite prohibition after bringing cases “without any reasonable grounds” following job application rejections over an eight-year period.

16 March 2022

REC highlights concerns in letter to government ahead of Spring Budget

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has written to the government listing its concerns in advance of the upcoming Spring Budget.

Apprentices/Grads/School leavers 10 March 2022

Calls for government to scrap next month’s NIC increase

MPs this week accepted a non-binding motion calling on the government to scrap the National Insurance Contribution increase, due to come in next month, online news service inews.co.uk has reported.

10 March 2022

APSCo calls for Employment Bill changes to be announced in Queen’s Speech

With the pandemic delaying the announcement of legislative changes under the Employment Bill, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) has called on the UK Government to ensure that this is announced in this year’s Queen’s Speech.

3 March 2022

Lords’ Sub-committee urges finance minister to take ‘coherent approach’ to employment status

The government must take “a coherent approach” to employment status if it is “truly committed” to fairness in the workplace.

10 February 2022

‘Opportunities’ for to HMRC to improve on IR35 customer experience

HM Revenue & Customs has an opportunity to improve its customer experience and compliance in putting IR35 reforms into practice.

10 February 2022

Man pleads guilty to slavery and trafficking offences in Cumbria

A man has admitted exploiting a vulnerable worker who lived in a six-foot shed on a caravan park for 40 years, the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has reported.

Agriculture, Industrial/Manufacturing 19 January 2022

Good news for digital RTW checks but added costs mean bad news for recruiters

Recruitment industry leaders are welcoming the Home Office’s announcement that a permanent system of digital right to work (RTW) checks will be put into place from 6 April 2022.

Creative/Digital/Media, IT/Telecoms 5 January 2022

Sport & leisure industry demand help to retain jobs, improve nation’s health

The hospitality sector is not the only one where businesses need financial support to withstand the economic, health and well-being and social fallout of Covid-19 over the festive season.

Hospitality/Leisure 22 December 2021

APSCo welcomes digital trade deal with Singapore

The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) has welcomed the recent announcement that the UK has reached an agreement in principle with Singapore, in what is being coined the “world’s most comprehensive digital trade deal”.

Creative/Digital/Media, IT/Telecoms 20 December 2021

Industry unimpressed with government and HMRC’s answers over CEST

The controversial Check Employment Status for Tax (CEST) tool was designed to give a clear determination in 80% of cases, the House of Lords Finance Bill sub-committee heard from Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs yesterday (13 December 2021).

14 December 2021

Recruiters on government’s NMW named and shamed list

Over 200 employers this week were named and shamed by government for failing to pay their lowest paid staff the minimum wage.

Graduates/Apprentices/School leavers, Apprentices/Grads/School leavers 10 December 2021

ARC asks Chancellor to reinstate VAT concession for staffing agencies

The Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) has this week sent a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer proposing the reinstatement of the VAT Staff Hire Concession.

Public sector, Social care 10 December 2021

Chairman of Brewster Partners quits following media investigation

The non-executive chairman of a South Yorkshire recruitment agency has quit after a media investigation revealed it was reported to HM Revenue & Customs over allegations of furlough fraud, The Times newspaper has reported.

Creative/Digital/Media, Charity & not-for-profit 2 December 2021

Government ‘call for evidence’ on role of umbrella companies

The government has called this week for evidence on the role that umbrella companies play in the market, and how they interact with the tax and employment rights systems.

1 December 2021

RPO firm in allegations of conflict of interest with Treasury minister

A treasury minister has come under fire in connection with claims of an “untenable” potential conflict of interest involving a £15bn government contract with a talent outsourcing firm.

Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Accounting/Finance 22 November 2021

Recruitment firm Brewster Partners in breach of furlough rules allegation

A joint investigation by The Times and BBC File on 4 has uncovered evidence that alleges senior executives at recruiter Brewster Partners encouraged staff to work while furloughed.

15 November 2021