1. The empoyment of migrant workers
2. National Minimum Wage October 2008
3. ENGLISH AND WELSH SMOKING BAN 2007
4. HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENTS: JULY 2007, April 2009
5. LICENCES FOR GAMBLING
6. Fixed Penalty for litter
7. Staturory; maternity, sick, paternity and adoption pay April 2008
8. Employment Law
9. Licensee fined over tipping
10. Acas launches guide to model workplace
11. Age Bias

The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Fine of upto 10,000 pounds for employing illegal migrant worker. Where the employer knowingly employs an illegal migrant worker there is a maximum prison sentance of upto two years and/or unlimited fines. www.employingmigrantworkers.org.uk/index.html

New National Minimum Wage rates from 1 October 2008 Workers aged 22 and over - £5.73 per hour Workers aged 18-21 - £4.77 per hour Workers aged 16-17 - £3.53 per hour Accommodation offset - £4.46 per day (£31.22 per week) To find out more: www.berr.gov.uk

Failure to comply with the law is a criminal offence enforced by authorised officers within local authorities. • Individuals who do smoke may be liable to a fixed penalty of £30 (rising to £50 if not paid within 15 days) for smoking in smoke free premises. In case of prosecution and conviction the maximum fine is £200 • The manager or person in control of any smoke free premises will be fined a fixed penalty of £200 for failing to display ‘No Smoking’ signs. In case of prosecution and conviction the maximum fine is £1,000 • The manager or any person in charge of any smoke free premises is liable to a fine of up to £2,500 for failing to prevent others from smoking in the premises. More information on the smoking ban can be found at www.smokefreeengland.co.uk or www.smokingbanwales.co.uk

• From 1st October 2007 all workers are entitled to 4.8 weeks (24 days) pro-rata to hours worked. • From 1st April 2009 this increases to 5.6 weeks (28 days) pro-rata to hours worked. • Employees start to gain holiday entitlement for the day they start work. • Employers have the right to control when staff takes their holidays. • Employees are entitled to normal pay during holidays. • Employees leaving work are entitled to be paid for holidays not taken. • Employers may include bank and public holidays as part of the entitlement. Further information is available from:- www.direct.gov.uk/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/

THE GAMING ACT 2005 From 1st September 2007 Gambling businesses will require one or a combination of the following three types of licence:- * Operating Licence granted by the Gambling Commission * Personal Licences granted by the Gambling Commission * Premises Licences granted by the Local Licensing Authorites. These licences wil be required for betting shops, amusement arcades, bingo halls and casinos. Details from:- www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/clint/detail.asp?Contentld=108

CONTROL OF LITTER Proposed new powers will enable local authorities to require owners and occupiers of businesses to clear up and saftely dispose of litter, including cigarette ends in the vicinity of their premises. A fixed penalty of £110 is prposed where there is a failure to comply. Remember that all work and public places in England become smoke free from 1st July 2007. Details of the proposals are available at:- www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/naturalenvironment.htm

SMP rate from 6th April 2008 First six weeks 90% of avaerage weekly earnings with no upper limit. Remaining 33 weeks standard SMP rate or 90% of average weekly earning which ever is the lower amount. Standard SMP from 6th April 200 is £117.18 Small businesses can recover 100% of SMP plus 4.5% compensation fee. Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) From 1st April 2007 is a maximum of 2 consective weeks at £117.18 or 90% of average wage which ever is lower. Statutory sick pay 75.40 www.berr.gov.uk

INCREASED HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT New regulations increasing holiday entitlement are in the rise in two phases:- October 2007 increase from 4 weeks (20 day) to 4.8 weeks (24 Days), October 2008 increasing to 5.6 weeks (28 days). This will pro-rata for those working less that 48 hours a week. Bank holidays and public holidays are included within these holiday entitlements. Holidays may be carried forward by agreement; however payment in lieu are only permitted on the termination of employment. Full details from: www,dit.gov.uk/employment/holidays/index.html

Licensee Stewart Kinloch of the George in Maulden has been fined £700 and ordered to pay Trading Standards costs of £723.09 for refilling a Bacardi Rum bottle with another white rum. The prosecution was brought by Bedfordshire County Council last month under the Food Safety Act 1990, after officers carried out a rountine inspection on the premises last April. They used authenticity dip sticks to test the product. Taken from The Publican 8-Feb-2006 www.thepublican.com

An initiative to help ensure that businesses remain competitive by focusing on their people has been launched by Acas. The model consists of three key elements:

• Putting systems and procedures in place
• Developing relationships
• Working together

For more information: www.acas.org.uk

Businesses are losing out by failing to target older workers when recruiting, new research has claimed. The CIPD and the Chartered Management Institute has found that while older people are perceived to be reliable, committed and productive, only 7% of employers target them.