Uber appeals to Supreme Court
Uber presented its application to the Supreme Court to appeal the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decision that its drivers are workers and should have associated rights.
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National Minimum Wage Increase
Workers aged over 25 will receive an inflation-busting increase of 33p an hour in their national minimum wage. An above-inflation pay rise of 4.4 per cent starting April 2018 is over the 3 per cent rate of inflation which is in place at the moment. Following this, full-time workers will receive a £600 annual increase.
Autumn Budget – employment provisions
The Chancellor has spoken and presented his first Autumn Budget.
Cooking up a storm – Tier 2 chefs
The immigration rules make a distinction between chefs working at takeaway establishments and those working at restaurants.
Managing a flexible workforce
With Christmas on the way (a busy time of year in many sectors – including hospitality) Big Hospitality has published […]
Scotland – a separate system for global mobility?
The Times newspaper has revealed plans by Scottish ministers to pave the way for a bespoke immigration system. Scottish ministers are concerned that Brexit will lead to a fall in immigrant workers, who are vital to the Scottish economy. Alasdair Allan, the Scottish government’s Europe minister, raised this as an issue to the Europe Committee earlier in 2017. He said: “The Scottish government will continue to call for a less restrictive and more humane system from the UK which recognises individual and demographic circumstances.”
Uber loses appeal on worker status
In the continuing worker status saga, Uber’s recent appeal against the Tribunal ruling that its drivers are workers, rather than self-employed individuals, has been dismissed by the EAT.
Greek government's imposition of height restrictions on its police force falls short of equal treatment
In the recent case of Ypourgos Ethnikis Pedias kai Thriskevmaton v. Kalliri, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) held that the requirement for candidates for the Greek police academy to be at least 170cm tall amounted to indirect sex discrimination which could not be objectively justified.
Supreme Court rules that embassy staff are not excluded by state immunity
In the recent case of Benkharbouche v. Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs & Anor the Supreme Court agreed with the EAT and the Court of Appeal and unanimously held that sections 4(2)(b) and 16(1)(a) of the State Immunity Act 1978 (SIA) cannot protect embassies from Employment Tribunal claims brought by domestic staff in the UK.
Court of appeal rules that gender segregation at school amounts to unlawful discrimination
In the recent case of HMCI v. The Interim Executive Board of Al-Hijrah School, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court’s finding that a school’s complete gender segregation of pupils from year five onwards was not direct sex discrimination.
Parental bereavement leave bill published by the government
On 13 October 2017, the government published the Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Bill. This will offer two weeks’ paid leave to any employed parent who loses a child under the age of 18.
Safeguarding the status of EU citizens: UK and EU negotiation update
The EU and UK have concluded their fifth round of negotiations. Progress has been made on coming to an agreement in relation to the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. Some points are still to be negotiated.