The saga continues of the so called “deal”, under which the UK’s position opposing the Agency Workers Directive (AWD) was withdrawn in exchange for agreement for the UK to retain the 48 hour opt out under the Working Time Directive (WTD.) On 17th December the EU Parliament made a determined attempt to remove the opt […]
The pre budget report contained the welcome news that the government has decided not to change the tax reliefs on travel expenses, but that is not the end of the matter. Adrian Marlowe, managing director of Lawspeed, said “this news will come as a huge relief not only to umbrella companies, but also to the […]
The Government has today issued a new consultation – entitled “Tax relief for travel expenses: temporary workers and overarching employment contracts”. This marks the beginning of another phase in the government’s review of the agency sector. Clearly the principle, that agency workers are able, by operating through an umbrella company or agency, in either case […]
The Agency Workers Directive (AWD) has long been simmering in the background, with many believing it would never become law, especially since the Government was originally against the proposals. However, following another policy U-turn, the Government announced on the 20th May that a deal had been made with the TUC and the CBI that would […]
On the 10th June, the EU Council agreed points of principle as to the content of the proposed Agency Workers Directive. Fundamentally it was agreed that the entitlement for agency workers to have comparable rights to regular employees of the end user shall apply from day one of an assignment in terms of pay, leave […]
Following our newsletter of 16th May 2008 the government has announced that it has agreed a deal with unions and employers that will see agency workers receiving equal treatment as employees. Equal treatment will mean the same entitlement to pay and basic working and employment conditions. The entitlement will arise after 12 weeks “in a […]
It is worth the reminder that there were two related BERR consultations in 2007 on “… measures to protect vulnerable agency workers” and “…National Minimum Wage and Employment Agency Standards Enforcement”. Following responses to the consultations, the proposed legislation was finalised and will take effect in two stages during 2008. The Conduct of Employment Agencies […]
For many years there has been a lack of clarity as to whether an agency could have employment rights as against a hirer. More technically minded readers will know that the ruling in Dacas (2004) first really set the cat amongst the pigeons, when the Court of Appeal implied that an agency worker could be […]
In April 2007 the government introduced legislation to force contractors to pay employment taxes where the contractor obtains advice from managed service company providers (MSCPs). In some circumstances, this debt could be transferred to the MSCP. For an organisation to be an MSCP all that is required is for it to be in the business […]
Following representations put forward by Lawspeed, HMRC and the Treasury has abandoned the idea of introducing an audit scheme in the foreseeable future. In recent months HMRC had announced that it was considering a scheme which may allow for certain third parties to assess whether a provider organisation is compliant with the MSC legislation. However […]
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