New employment regulations come into force

1 October marked the introduction of some significant new employment regulations, including:

Age discrimination legislation

Landmark age discrimination legislation now outlaws discrimination on the basis of a person's age, in employment and vocational training.

For further details on the legislation, visit the Latest Updates section.

Work and Families Act

Meanwhile, the Work and Families Act also comes into force, paving the way for new rights for working parents, including an extension of paid maternity leave from six to nine months from 1 April 2007.

More information on the changes is available here.

National Minimum Wage

Also taking effect on 1 October is the latest increase in the National Minimum Wage. To view the latest rates, click here.