Labour Legislation
Regulations governing employment rights, workplace safety, industrial relations, and employment standards.
These Regulations extend the timeframe for ecclesiastical office holders to refer matters to an Employment Tribunal if they fail to receive required documentation regarding their terms of service. The instrument specifically doubles the period from three months to six months following the termination of an appointment for an office holder to file a reference concerning missing statements of particulars, changes to office, or stipend details.
These changes apply to clergy and other ecclesiastical office holders within the Church of England under the 2009 Regulations.
The Abuse Redress Rules 2026
These regulations amend the fee structure for medical practitioners applying for registration with the General Medical Council.
They specifically revoke the 'fixed fee' previously applicable to certain doctors with overseas qualifications, requiring them instead to pay the standard registration fee.
These changes apply to any medical practitioner qualified outside the UK who seeks inclusion in the GMC register on or after 1 April 2024.
This Order establishes 25 August 2026 as the commencement date for a new Code of Practice governing electronic and workplace balloting for trade unions in England, Wales, and Scotland.
It directs trade unions to follow specific guidance when conducting statutory ballots for industrial action, political resolutions, and union amalgamations.
The Order applies to trade unions, employers, and independent scrutineers involved in statutory voting processes, while exempting ballots that were already underway or formally initiated before the effective date.
The Trade Unions (Permissible Means of Voting) and Employment Rights (Unfair Dismissal) (Amendment) Order 2026
This Order amends the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the Employment Rights Act 1996 to permit trade unions to conduct elections and industrial action ballots via electronic, hybrid, and workplace voting in addition to traditional postal methods.
It directs a 'responsible person' within the union to determine which voting methods are available for a given ballot based on specific security and accessibility criteria.
The Order applies to trade unions, employers, and independent scrutineers, mandating strict technical standards such as Cyber Essentials Plus certification, data encryption, and the maintenance of comprehensive audit logs.
Establishes a statutory levy on employers within the engineering construction industry for three distinct periods covering 2026 through 2028.
It directs the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board to assess and collect payments based on employer emoluments and labor-only contract costs, while providing specific exemptions for small-scale employers and charitable organizations.
The Order applies to all employers engaged wholly or mainly in engineering construction activities in England, Wales, and Scotland.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (Establishment of Schools) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2026
These regulations update several primary and secondary education acts to align with the school establishment framework introduced by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.
They modify the procedures for proposing new schools, clarify employment transfer rules for staff in pupil referral units, and adjust how governance arrangements are made before a new school is formally approved.
The measures apply to local authorities, school governing bodies, and the Department for Education in England and Wales.
The Bus Services Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026
These Regulations bring into force several sections of the Bus Services Act 2025 on 5 August 2026, primarily affecting local transport authorities, bus operators, and their employees.
The provisions grant new powers to vehicle inspectors, authorize the creation of local and London-based bus byelaws, and introduce mandatory staff training regarding disability, crime, and anti-social behaviour.
The instrument also establishes practical deadlines for staff to complete this training, with specific transitional windows extending to late 2028 and 2029 depending on when an individual was employed.
This instrument amends the Explanatory Note of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 2 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026 to correct a grammatical error.
It substitutes the word 'brings' for 'bring' in the fourth paragraph of the note.
The document applies to the King's Printer and those responsible for the publication and maintenance of UK statutory instruments.