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ARTICLE · 22 JULY 1999

Employment Law: Recent and anticipated developments

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United KingdomEmployment and HR

There has been a raft of new employment legislation in recent months. Much of it stems from European Directives, which the UK government is under an obligation to implement by the end of 1999. The legislation can be presented as a package of employment and social reform but is unfortunately being introduced piecemeal, with many of the most radical provisions needing further clarification and detail by secondary legislation not yet published, and subject to consultation.

This note summarises recent developments and looks forward to the reforms to come in the near future.

Provisions Recently in Force

The Working Time Regulations 1998

These Regulations came into force on 1 October 1998 and introduced rights and obligations for employees and employers relating to work and recreation periods. The main provisions are:

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