Issue 43 – November 2024
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Fast Forward
- Final 2024 webinar! The Employment Rights Bill – What do you need to prepare for? 26 November, BOOK NOW!
- Understanding Ethical Labour Standards in the UK: A Guide for Sustainable Brands – Recording now available!
- SEP Supplier Training – book onto November Training
- Are you a UK supplier and want to join our collaborative initiative?
Industry and Legislative News
- 2025 National Living Wage announced!
- The Director of Labour Market Enforcement, Margaret Beels, has launched her call for evidence for 2025/26
- Next steps to Make Work Pay
Click on these links to learn more about becoming a Brand Member, Brand Associate or signing up to the Supplier Engagement Programme annual subscription.
Share your feedback and requests for Newsletter inclusions.
The Fast Forward Team
FAST FORWARD NEWS
Final 2024 webinar! The Employment Rights Bill
What do you need to prepare for?
26 November, BOOK NOW!
The UK Government unveiled the Employment Rights Bill with the stated aim “to help deliver economic security and growth to businesses, workers and communities across the UK”. According to Government, the Bill and measures will:
- Give protection against unfair dismissal from day one, while allowing employers to operate probation periods
- Establish parental and bereavement leave from day one
- End exploitative zero hour contracts
- End unscrupulous practices of fire and rehire and fire and replace
- Make flexible working the norm where practical
- Deliver stronger dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers
- Establish a new Fair Work Agency with new powers to enforce holiday pay
- Strengthen Statutory Sick Pay
If you are a Brand Member, Brand Associate or SEP subscriber, join this webinar to learn on how you can prepare and get ahead of the upcoming developments!
WEBINAR: Understanding Ethical Labour Standards in the UK: A Guide for Sustainable Brands
Many brands and entrepreneurs recognise the importance of sustainability but find it challenging to truly understand and implement ethical practices, fair worker treatment, and access trusted manufacturers in the UK. Navigating these complexities can be daunting, and there’s a risk of unknowingly supporting exploitative practices.
- Understanding Ethical Labour Standards
- Key UK regulations to ensure compliance.
- Why responsible purchasing is critical.
- How our collaborative programme can support a brand’s ethical efforts, whether you’re new to the industry or have years of experience. Watch the recording!
Are you a UK supplier and want to join our collaborative initiative?
Join the Fast Forward Supplier Engagement Programme to learn how to achieve, implement and exceed legal and ethical standards in your business, build worker loyalty and engagement, enhance your reputation and access potential customers through visibility of your engagement to all Fast Forward Member Brands*.
Supplier (SEP) Training Sessions
The Supplier Engagement Programme (SEP) training sessions are now available to book through your Dashboard. This presents a valuable opportunity for both brands and suppliers to upskill and maximise the benefits of our programme.
During these 2.5-hour training sessions, your business can gain essential insights on how to effectively navigate your dedicated dashboard and self-paced Core Standards training modules, ensuring you remain well-informed about the latest standards and industry practices. Our training sessions are open to both SEP subscribers and Brand members.
If you are an SEP subscriber or Member Brand review the full agenda.
LEGISLATIVE AND INDUSTRY NEWS
2025 National Minimum Wage Announced
National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 from the 1 April 2025. Read more.
The Director of Labour Market Enforcement, Margaret Beels, has launched her call for evidence
Next steps to Make Work Pay
The UK governments is focusing on rebuilding the economy to better serve working people and businesses, with a central part of the strategy being the modernisation of the labour market and fair work. The aim is to address issues like low pay, poor working conditions and poor job security, which have held back economic growth.
The Government states: “From day 1 of coming into government, we have moved to restore the principle that work should always pay. We are committed to creating jobs that provide security, treat workers fairly, and pay a decent wage. No one working full time should be struggling to pay bills and afford essentials. We have already made sure that, for the first time, the Low Pay Commission takes into account the cost of living.”
Make Work Pay – The Vision, Objectives and more!
Read the government’s next steps updated 8 November,2024
Just Good Work
Just Good Work is a free, interactive mobile app giving jobseekers and workers from the UK or abroad critical information and advice on recruitment and employment. The Fast Forward audit requires businesses to display the Just Good Work poster.
Posters are available to download for free in nine languages from the Fast Forward website: Albanian, Bulgarian, English, Croatian, Gujarati, Polish, Romanian, Serbian and Ukrainian.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE
IN THIS NEWSLETTER?
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“A world where all workers are recruited responsibly and
have fair work free from exploitation.”
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