Political Monitor

Excerpt from Political Monitor for APSCO for the week 2/8/2010

What's being said in Westminster

Government to act on travel and subsistence schemes

The Government has published a summary of responses to the recent consultation on travel and subsistence schemes implemented for some temporary workers paid at or near the National Minimum Wage (NMW). The Government has concluded that, on balance, action should be taken. It will amend the NMW Regulations to take effect from 1 January 2011.
The consultation looked at addressing the issue of the potentially exploitative arrangements which are implemented for some temporary workers paid at or near the National Minimum Wage (NMW). It aimed to develop the best solution to this problem and asked for feedback on the proposed changes to the NMW Regulations.

The consultation response document is available here:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/consult_minimumwage_expenses_responses.pdf

What's being said in Europe

Self-employed granted maternity and pension benefits

Self-employed workers and their partners will enjoy greater social protection, including the right to maternity leave for the first time, under new European legislation. The Directive on self-employed workers and assisting spouses repeals and replaces an earlier directive on self-employment and improves the social protection rights of millions of women in the labour
market, strengthening female entrepreneurship. At present only one in three entrepreneurs is a woman.

The Directive considerably improves the protection of female self-employed workers and assisting spouses or life partners of self-employed workers, particularly in case of maternity. They are granted a maternity allowance and a leave of at least 14 weeks, should they choose to take it. At EU level, this is the first time a maternity allowance has been granted to self-employed workers.

Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship and Vice-President of the European Commission said:

"With the entry into force of this new law, Europe takes an important step forward in terms of increasing social protection and providing equal economic and social rights for self-employed men and women, and their partners.

"The new European law ensures full equality in practice between men and women in working life, promoting female entrepreneurship and allowing self-employed women to enjoy better social security protection. I call on all Member States to start implementing the Directive swiftly so that our citizens can see the benefits in their daily lives."

EU Member States now have to introduce the Directive into their national laws within two years.

All insights