3.2.5 - Legislation

• What is legislation?

  Government making laws to control actions
• What is the purpose of employment law?

  To protect employees' rights in the workplace
• What are the key aspects of employment law?

  • Recruitment: Guidelines for hiring staff
  • Pay: Ensures minimum wage compliance
  • Discrimination: Fair treatment for all employees
  • Health and Safety: Employee safety regulations
• What is a trade union?

  A group of workers improving pay and conditions
• What are employees' rights in the workplace?

  • Receive pay as per contract
  • Safe working environment
  • Suitable training provided
  • Join a trade union
  • Maternity pay and paid holidays
  • Time off for specific reasons
• How long is maternity leave?

  52 weeks
• How long is paternity leave?

  1 or 2 weeks
• What is the statutory annual leave entitlement for workers?

  5.6 weeks or 28 days
• What are the costs businesses incur due to regulations?

  • Time to produce documents
  • Following procedures
  • Meeting legal obligations
• What are employers' responsibilities under health and safety law?

  • Provide staff training
  • Supply safety equipment
  • Ensure access to drinking water
  • Provide toilets and washing facilities
  • Offer first aid equipment
• What are employees' rights under health and safety regulations?

  • Average work hours limited to 48 per week
  • Minimum of 5.6 weeks holiday per year
  • 20-minute break for over 6 hours of work
  • At least one day off each week
• What are the consequences of failing to meet health and safety legislation?

  • Increased business costs
  • Potential fines and imprisonment
  • Decreased worker motivation and productivity
• What is the purpose of quality and consumer laws?

  To protect consumers from poor quality products
• What are the rights consumers have under consumer laws?

  • Goods must be of satisfactory quality
  • Goods must be fit for specified purpose
  • Right to claim against producers for damages
• What are the benefits of consumer legislation for businesses?

  • Improved marketplace reputation
  • Reduced costs for repairs and replacements
  • Avoidance of bad publicity
  • Higher quality raw materials
• What are the impacts of consumer legislation on business practices?

  • Encourages quality control
  • May require additional training
  • Increases administrative processes
• effects on business of a minimum wage

  • wage costs will increase
  • jobs may be lost and prices increased to pay for wage rise
  • some jobs could be replaced by autuomation
• what is a tribunal

  a court for employees who have issues of their workforce
• the health and safety law requires:

  • safe operation and maintenance
  • adequate training of staff
• Consequences of not following regulations

  • unlimited fines and even imprisonment
  • can be expensive - resulting in uncompetitiveness
  • training increases costs
• consumer laws:

  • prevent unsafe products
  • prevent selling products at unfair prices
  • prevent selling information about consumers without permission