Also in the news...
Overcoming Logistics Challenges in International Projects
International industrial projects promise opportunity, but also bring complications. For project leaders, engineers and logistics professionals, the question isn’t whether challenges will arise, but how they’ll be managed. From variable infrastructure to customs compliance, successful delivery across borders requires foresight, flexibility and the right partners.
Switzerland: providing services and travelling for business
Guidance for UK businesses on rules for selling services to Switzerland.
UK lands trade deal with South Korea to boost jobs and exports
UK lands momentous trade deal with South Korea to boost jobs and exports
New laws bring the world of work into the 21st century
Over 15 million people across the UK are expected to benefit as the Employment Rights Act receives Royal Assent.
Brilliant Borders: Kenya's Customs goes digital
A new app will save time and money for big businesses and small traders alike, as a longstanding Kenya-UK partnership further improves cross-border trade.
Zero-hours contracts
Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has announced that, under new proposals, employers could be banned from imposing ‘exclusivity’ on zero-hours contracts which offer no guarantee of work and stop employees from working for another employer.
Zero-hours contracts mean employees only work as and when they are needed by employers, often at short notice, and are only paid for the hours they work.
Some of these contracts oblige workers to take the shifts they are offered, others do not.
Sick pay is often not included although holiday pay should be, in line with working time regulations.
According to Office for National Statistics figures, 250,000 workers are on zero-hours contracts, about 1% of the UK workforce.
In the consultation, the Government also outline proposals on ways to tackle the lack of transparency in the way zero-hours contracts are currently being used and improve guidance for both employers and employees around their use.
F&L