Employers can claim back more maternity pay

Employment law changes affecting unions now in force

Among the important changes, dismissal for taking part in protected industrial action is now “automatically unfair”, removing the previous 12-week limit for claiming unfair dismissal and extending it through the whole period of industrial action.

Union anger at reports that young workers’ minimum wage rates may be retained

In its election manifesto, Labour promised that it would remove the age bands on the minimum wage rates which currently see a worker aged 21 and over earning £12.21 per hour while an 18-year-old colleague is paid £10 per hour.

Problems for one in three unemployed adults who want to work

The January 2026 labour market statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics, show that one in three unemployed adults aged between 16–64 want to work (35.7%).