Employment Law Update (August 2008)

Disgruntled staff to get one-stop complaints shop

The Government has announced that it will set up a one-number telephone helpline for employees to complain to about issues including non-payment of the National Minimum Wage; Working Time; Health and Safety and breaches of employment law by "gangmasters". It is not clear when this new service for employees will be introduced.

Employers who run their businesses lawfully should have nothing to fear from the service, and will welcome the crackdown on unfair competition from those employers who break the rules. However, the move shows that the Government, while committed to "removing red tape" - and at a time of tightening public spending - favours putting more resources into enforcement action against employers and proves how vital it is that employers keep up to date with legal changes to ensure they avoid enforcement action.