This month’s news in brief
TUC wants pay floor raised to £5 an hour
The TUC has called for an increase in the adult rate of the National Minimum
Wage from £3.70 to between £4.50 and £5 an hour. Amendments to the minimum wage
regulations which come into force this month raise the adult rate from £3.60 to
£3.70 an hour and introduce a number of other changes, including the exemption
from the minimum wage of people on national traineeships.
Revamp of work permit scheme on the cards
Changes to the work permit scheme designed to help immigration policy plug
the skills gap are expected this month. The Government is considering making
work permits dependent on job offers at a "sufficiently high level, rather
than seeking to identify employment sectors with shortages," Home Office
minister Barbara Roche said.
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Acas disputes scheme hit by another delay
The introduction of the Acas alternative dispute resolution scheme has been
delayed again, until the end of the year. The scheme was originally planned for
spring 1999. The latest delays have been caused by a possible clash with the Human
Rights Act, since staff taking part in the scheme must waive their right of
appeal.
