#labour-policy

#labour-policy

The labour market continues to present a gloomy picture. While not as bad as some have feared, most of the important indicators are negative. Employment and vacancies are slightly down, inactivity remains a problem, and unemployment is up again. One particular issue is entirely predictable. The hike in employer national insurance contributions, plus the Employment Rights Bill threatening to bring in unfair dismissal from day one and the clampdown on zero hours contracts, all mean that employers are extremely wary of taking on untried

Maternity leave is paid at 90% of a mother's average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, then for the next 33 weeks, whichever is lower of that 90% figure or 187.18 a week.