The Queen’s Speech has unveiled a number of announcements aimed at helping employers, including a National Insurance Contributions Bill and a “Deregulation Bill” which will set out to reduce excessive red tape for businesses.
The speech, delivered today to mark the state opening of Parliament, set out legislation that will be brought in by the Government in the coming year.
The National Insurance Contributions Bill will introduce a new employment allowance, giving all businesses a reduction of £2,000 per annum from their employer national insurance contributions. It will take effect in April 2014.
The measure is intended to help small businesses in particular with the cost of employing people, and the Government said around 450,000 employers will benefit.
The proposed Deregulation Bill will set out to reduce the burden of excessive regulation on businesses. These include changes to employment tribunals and health and safety regulations.
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The speech also included proposed changes to childcare for working parents, increased access to traineeships and apprenticeships, and an increase in the level of fines for businesses employing illegal workers.
For more detail on the measures included in the Queen’s Speech, see XpertHR’s full coverage.
