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25.3.2011 
The Government has published the 2011 Budget with its accompanying 'Plan for Growth'. Many of the employment-related measures have already been announced, however there were a few surprises. The Government’s aim is to create a more educated and flexible workforce with 'the lowest burden from employment regulation in the EU'.
The proposals include:
providing an exemption for “micro businesses” (those with fewer than 10 employees) and start-up businesses from new domestic (UK) regulation for three years from 1 April 2011;
not extending the right to request time to train to businesses with fewer than 250 employees (contrary to recent government proposals);
repealing the proposed extension of the right to request flexible working to parents of 17 year olds which was due to take effect from 6 April 2011;
launching a public review of current regulations with a view to removing those which are “excessively burdensome”;
consulting on the removal of the requirement in the Equality Act 2010 for businesses to take reasonable steps to prevent persistent harassment of their staff by third parties;
not bringing into force the Equality Act’s dual discrimination provisions;
inviting the Low Pay Commission to consider and implement in its next report the best way of giving businesses clarity on future levels of the National Minimum Wage, including consideration of two-year recommendations;
encouraging public bodies to disclose their TUPE-related liabilities at an early stage of the commissioning process of public tenders; and
consulting on moving the Mayday bank holiday to either St George's Day (in England) or a new 'UK Day' or 'Trafalgar Day' bank holiday during the October half term.
The Government states that it intends to “make further changes to employment legislation to reduce the costs to businesses of compliance”. Consequently, the Growth Review will continue to review employment laws for the rest of this Parliament with a view to maximising flexibility for both employers and employees, while protecting fairness and providing a competitive, enterprising environment.
This bulletin is for general guidance purposes only and should not be used for any other purpose.
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