Round up of forthcoming changes to employment law:

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 comes into force 6 April 2008

New laws on corporate manslaughter are introduced. They will create a new offence of corporate manslaughter, which would allow organisations to be prosecuted for management failures that lead to the deaths of employees and others.

Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers and Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2006 are extended 6 April 2008

 The Regulations, which introduce a statutory requirement upon employers to consult with prospective and active members of pension schemes and their representatives before making major or significant changes to future pension arrangements, are extended to cover undertakings with 50 or more employees.

Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2007 come into force

6 April 2008

The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses (Amendment) Regulations 2007 introduce new provisions aimed at protecting agency workers.

Centralised vetting system for people working with children and vulnerable adults comes into force Autumn 2008

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act will introduce a centralised vetting system for people banned from working with children and vulnerable adults. Employers will be able to make checks online, with information updated straight away when any individual is added to the list. Employers will be informed where possible if an individual becomes barred. There will be fines of up to £5,000 for employers that knowingly employ individuals on the list or fail to make the relevant checks.

Minimum statutory holiday entitlement increases to 28 days

1 April 2009

The statutory entitlement to paid holiday increases from 24 days to 28 days.

Maternity pay is extended to 12 months

April 2010

The Government intends to extend paid maternity leave to 12 months.

Paternity leave and pay is extended

April 2010

The Government intends to allow fathers to benefit from up to 26 weeks' paid additional paternity leave if the mother of the child returns to work before the end of the maternity leave period to which she is entitled.

Number of years' contribution required to achieve a full basic state pension reduced

6 April 2010