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Bill · started in the Lords

Employment Act 2008

A Bill to make provision about the procedure for the resolution of employment disputes; to provide for compensation for financial loss in cases of unlawful underpayment or non-payment; to make provision about the enforcement of minimum wages legislation and the application of the national minimum wage to Cadet Force Adult Volunteers; to make provision about the enforcement of offences under the Employment Agencies Act 1973; to make provision about the right of trade unions to expel or exclude members on the grounds of membership of a political party; and for connected purposes.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe Employment Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 6 December 2007 by Lord Jones of Birmingham (Other). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law as the Employment Act 2008, receiving Royal Assent on 13 November 2008.

What the bill does

The Bill contains proposals to reform existing law covering industrial relations and employment protection. <br><strong><br>Key areas</strong><br><br><ul><li>Repeals the Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004 which were intended to reduce employment litigation, but had unintended consequences in practice</li><li>The statutory dispute resolution procedures will be replaced by a new non-regulatory system; a package of measures to encourage early/informal resolution of employment disputes possibly with increased support for the involvement of Acas</li><li>Clarifies and strengthens the enforcement framework for the National Minimum Wage</li><li>Clarifies and strengthens employment agency standards to address some of the concerns about vulnerable workers </li><li>Changes the relevant labour law to ensure compliance with the European Court of Human Rights judgement in Aslef v UK. This requires clearer rights for trade unions to determine their membership, after domestic courts held that trade unions could not lawfully expel British National Party activists.</li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Lords 6 Dec 2007
  2. 2nd reading Lords 7 Jan 2008
  3. Committee stage Lords 4 Feb to 3 Apr 2008
  4. Report stage Lords 19 May 2008
  5. 3rd reading Lords 2 Jun 2008
  6. 1st reading Commons 3 Jun 2008
  7. 2nd reading Commons 14 Jul 2008
  8. Programme motion Commons 14 Jul 2008
  9. Money resolution Commons 14 Jul 2008
  10. Committee stage Commons 14 Oct to 16 Oct 2008
  11. Report stage Commons 4 Nov 2008
  12. 3rd reading Commons 4 Nov 2008
  13. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Lords 13 Nov 2008
  14. Royal Assent Unassigned 13 Nov 2008

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 25 Feb 2009.