A high-quality new apprenticeship standard for plastering has been approved by the Government as part of the trailblazer initiative, with a new bricklaying standard to be agreed in the near future. The new standards, which have been designed as part of an innovative collaboration led by construction SMEs from across England, will be rolled out as soon as autumn 2017.

Since the government began enforcing the National Minimum Wage in April 1999, HM Revenue & Customs has identified £68 million in arrears for over 313,000 workers, according to today’s report from the National Audit Office. The number of workers identified as being owed arrears in 2015-16 was 58,000 compared to 26,000 in 2014-15.

A new report, released today by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), analysed the wide range of ‘speak up arrangements’ used by firms across the world and identified what makes them effective. 

The report ‘Britain at Work 2016’ by reputation management consultancy Lansons and insight agency Opinium reveals that around a quarter of UK employees, equivalent to 6 million people, have taken time off work in the last 12 months due to stress brought about as a consequence of doing their job.

The global internet community is set to introduce a new and more sophisticated level of internet security and Bacs is again warning businesses to act now to avoid losing access to vital payment services when internet security changes from 13 June 2016.

New research has found that Brexit could cause a pay cut across the country – and especially in London.

The Trade Union Bill has received parliamentary approval (Royal Assent) and becomes the Trade Union Act 2016.

The Enterprise Bill has now received parliamentary approval (Royal Assent) and becomes the Enterprise Act.

The Conservative party is regularly beset by allegations of racism against its MPs, councillors and candidates but even the most offensive comments rarely result in serious disciplinary action, a dossier reveals today.

The Director External Relations at Heathrow Nigel Milton responds to TfL on the costs of upgrading transport links to Heathrow if the expansion goes ahead there.

Speaking to PoliticsHome, Labour MP Chris Matheson slams the Government for “piling misery upon misfortune” in its relentless plunder of disability benefits.

GMB calls on David Cameron to keep his promise to help save over 680 British Gas jobs at Oldbury, West Midlands before time runs out

Our Members do not want this taskforce to be a toothless tiger so GMB must be involved

 

Trade unions have slammed British Gas for unnecessary job losses, while its ‘top brass’ continues to enjoy multi-million pound pay packages.

British Gas’ decision to axe 684 office jobs, including the company’s Oldbury operation in the West Midlands, has been met with dismay by Unite, the country’s largest union, which called for the site to remain open.

The Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) has agreed a two year deal involving a 5% pay rise over two years. 

Writing exclusively for PoliticsHome's Central Lobby, TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady argues David Cameron and Remain campaigners should broaden their appeal by supporting EU plans tackling the use of migrant workers to drive down pay.

The heat is being turned up on business secretary Sajid Javid over the long delay in publishing his report into ‘tipping’ abuses that have seen waiters being short-changed by their bosses.

The decision from Macquarie to divest its stake in Thames Water is the perfect chance for government to set the strategic and operational direction of the water says GMB

The independent chair of the College of Policing, Dame Shirley Pearce, talks to PoliticsHome about the work of the college and the need for more professionalism and consistency if the UK’s 43 police forces are to meet the changing demands of modern crime.

The charity Turn2us comments on the National Living Wage comes into effect today.

Helen's recent appointment to the position strengthens the CIPP's current policy team which has seen a huge increase in business lately. 

We have to look at nationalising the steel industry, even over a short period of time, to protect these assets says GMB

Labour MP for Sheffield Central, Paul Blomfield, speaks with PoliticsHome ahead of his debate on Wednesday into non-compliance with the minimum wage.