Gender pay gap reporting rules come into force

Every year, larger employers (those with 250 or more employees) will have to report data about their gender pay gap, including bonus payments. They will also have to report on the proportion of male and female employees in different pay quartiles and those who receive bonuses. Employers in the private and voluntary sector must base their pay data on staff employed on a “snapshot” date of 5 April each year, starting from April 2017. Bonus information must be based on the preceding 12-month period. Organisations in the public sector must use 31 March as their snapshot date. Employers have 12 months to publish the information on their own website and to upload it to a Government website. Therefore, employers in scope need to make sure that they can capture the necessary data.

Apprenticeship levy is introduced

The apprenticeship levy to fund apprenticeship training is due to come into effect on 6 April 2017. Employers will pay the monthly levy via PAYE if they have a paybill of more than £3 million. Employers in England that pay the levy will be able to access funding through a digital service. The new system of funding is expected to operate from 1 May 2017. Employers that do not pay the levy will also be able to access funding for apprenticeships. Different arrangements exist around how apprenticeship funding will work will apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (although the levy applies across the UK).  Also on apprenticeships – larger public-sector employers will have to meet apprenticeship targets.

There will be an immigration skills chargeEmployers that sponsor skilled workers under tier 2 of the immigration points-based system will have to pay a levy of £1,000 per certificate of sponsorship per year (£364 for small employers and charities). The levy will apply in relation to each worker under tier 2, although there are some exemptions. The immigration skills charge is due to come into force on 6 April 2017. Other changes affecting employers that employ workers under tier 2 are as follows:

• From April 2017, the Government is planning to introduce a requirement for those workers coming to the UK under tier 2 for certain posts in the education, social care and health sectors, to obtain criminal records certificates from the countries that they have lived in over the last 10 years.
• The tier 2 (general) salary threshold will increase to £30,000 from 6 April 2017, for migrants who are “experienced workers”.

Reform to the intermediaries rules (IR35) in the public sector:The intermediaries rules (IR35) may apply where an individual supplies his or her services to a client via an intermediary, such as a personal service company. If the individual could be regarded as an employee if the intermediary did not exist, the rules apply and the intermediary must make deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions (NICs) on the salary and wages that it pays to the individual. New rules are expected to apply in relation to payments made from 6 April 2017 by public authorities paying a personal service company or other intermediary. The public authority will have responsibility for establishing if the intermediaries rules apply and, if they do, making the tax and NIC deductions. 

National minimum wage increases On 1 April 2017, the rates of the national minimum wage will increase, despite an increase in most rates on 1 October 2016. This is so that the timing of the annual increase in the national living wage rate for workers aged 25 or over can align with the other national minimum wage rates. The rate for workers aged 25 and over (the national living wage) increases from £7.20 to £7.50. The rates within the other age bands also increase.

Pensions advice allowance is introduced Members of defined-contribution and hybrid pension schemes will be able to take a tax-free amount of £500 from their scheme, to be redeemed against the expense of financial advice. The allowance is expected to take effect from 6 April 2017. The value of pensions advice provided by employers on which there is tax and NIC relief will increase from £150 to £500.

Statutory family-related pay and sick pay rates increase The weekly rate of statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay will increase to £140.98 for pay weeks commencing on or after 2 April 2017. The weekly rate of statutory sick pay will increase to £89.35 from 6 April 2017.

Statutory redundancy pay increases New limits on employment statutory redundancy pay come into force on 6 April 2017. Employers that dismiss employees for redundancy must pay those with two years’ service an amount based on the employee’s weekly pay, length of service and age. The weekly pay is subject to a maximum amount. From 6 April 2017, this is £489, increasing from £479.

Got a question regarding employment law changes 2017? Get in touch with one of our Solicitors in Belfast or London today.

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The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.