In the case of R v Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Administrative Court held that government negotiators had not made an express promise concerning consultation over a government department’s remit for negotiating pay.

The Claimants in this case consisted of three independent trade unions who represented 200,000 civil servants employed by government departments, agencies and other public bodies.

In the case of Twenty-Four Seven Recruitment Services Limited and others v Afonso and others, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) has provided some useful guidance on the level of detail that needs to be provided in an agency worker’s contract in order to invoke the equal pay (‘Swedish derogation’) exemption set out in the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (AWR).

In the case of Hawkes v Ausin Group (UK) Ltd, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) held that the failure of the Respondent to hold a meeting with the Claimant before his dismissal, did not render the dismissal unfair.  

New regulations are being introduced to help small businesses recover unpaid invoices from large companies.

The changes will make it easier for firms to access invoice finance. Ministers say this could provide a £1bn long-term boost to the economy

Currently a small supplier’s contract with a larger company may prevent it from securing invoice finance from providers such as banks and other investors.