In your corner: REC Campaigns and Policy news - 19 May 2021

With the dust settling from the 6 May elections, the REC campaign team Is busy setting up meetings with the new Mayors, and leaders of the Scottish and Welsh Assembly. To support our engagement plans we are looking for REC members to take part in local meetings with policy makers. If you are Interested in taking part, please contact policy@rec.uk.com

Productive meeting with Minister for Small Business

REC chief executive Neil Carberry met with the Minister for Small Business Paul Scully MP last week to update him on the performance of the labour market and champion the recruitment sector. The minister was very forthcoming about his respect and appreciation of the recruitment industry and the important role played by recruiters during the covid pandemic.

The Future of Retail lies with temporary workers

REC Director of Campaigns Shazia Ejaz, made the case for a flexible labour market sector, at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Future of Retail. The group, which is chaired by Labour MP Liz Twist, invited the REC to speak on the possible future opportunities and risks for the retail workforce. Shazia highlighted the invaluable work of employment businesses in helping retailers meet the surge in demand during the pandemic and stressed that better training support is needed via a reformed apprenticeship levy to help these key workers.

FlexiJob Apprenticeships

The REC held a roundtable with members and Department for Education officials to discuss the governments FlexiJob Apprenticeship Initiative. During the roundtable, members put forward their thoughts to DfE on how the new FlexiJob Apprenticeship scheme can support employment businesses who are currently unable to use their levy funds on training for temporary workers. The REC will be submitting written evidence to the government on FlexiJob. If you wish to discuss this consultation, please contact policy@rec.uk.com.

Missing: Employment Bill 2021

The 2021 Queen's Speech took place on 11 May, outlining the Government's plans for the next parliamentary session and intentions to boost economic recovery following the outbreak of coronavirus.  The REC had expected the Employment Bill to feature , unfortunately the Bill was not introduced. The expectation from us and others had been a Bill intended to "protect and enhance" workers’ rights following the U. K’s departure from the E.U. It was also due to contain measures to  create a Single Enforcement Body to tackle abuses in the labour market - and could also have provided further guidance on flexible working and the regulation of umbrella companies.

Right to Work

We are now less than 50 days until the deadline of 30 June 2021 for applications to be made to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). All EU, EEA and Swiss who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020, should apply without delay. As an employer, it is not your responsibility to make sure your EU employees have applied, but you can play a role by reminding them of the approaching deadline.

From a Right to Work perspective, no retrospective checks on existing employees after the 30 June 2021 deadline will be needed. However, from 1 July, new hires from EU, EEA and Swiss will need to demonstrate their right to work either with the pre-settled or settled status, or with a visa under the points-based immigration system.