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    In Hounga v Allen and anor the Supreme Court has held that a domestic worker could claim race discrimination, despite working illegally in the United Kingdom. The connection between the illegality and the statutory tort of discriminatory treatment was insufficiently close to bar her claim. Furthermore, in the view of the majority of the Court,[…]

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    In Kaltoft v Municipality of Billund (C-354/13) the Advocate General has given the opinion that obesity may amount to a disability for the purposes of the EU Equal Treatment Framework Directive (No.2000/78) but only if it is ‘severe’. The Advocate General thought it probable that only obesity with a body mass index (BMI) of over[…]

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    The Government has now responded to its consultation on the use of zero-hours contracts. This states that the Government will ban the use of exclusivity clauses and increase the availability of information on zero-hours contracts for employees. The Government will also work with unions and business to develop a best practice code of conduct aimed[…]

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    First, under clause 136, a new system for enforcing tribunal awards: an ‘enforcement officer’ will give a 28-day warning notice if a tribunal award remains unpaid. If the monies are not then paid by the Respondent, a ‘penalty notice’ will be issued. The penalty is 50% of the outstanding amount, subject to a minimum of[…]

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    Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has confirmed to IDS that it is making a number of changes to its fee remissions form and guidance. These changes are based on feedback from customers and stakeholders and are intended to simplify the application process for users. They will apply to fee remission applications from 30[…]

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    In R (on the application of T and anor) v Secretary of State for the Home Department and anor the Supreme Court has upheld the Court of Appeal’s decision that the statutory criminal record checking scheme breached Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and its declaration of incompatibility in relation to[…]

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    The Flexible Working Regulations 2014 were laid before parliament yesterday and come into force on 30th June. They extend the right to make a request for flexible working to any employee who has been employed for 26 weeks (not just parents of children under 17, or 18 if disabled, and certain carers – as was[…]

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    The Queen’s Speech today identified various (minor) employment law proposals:- • “Strengthen UK employment law by tackling National Minimum Wage abuses and cracking down on abuse in zero hours contracts”. No details are given, although speculation on Twitter is that this might give be a (fairly useless) right to request not working zero hour contracts.[…]

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