Greater Manchester Pay and Employment Rights Advice Service
Greater Manchester Pay and Employment Rights Advice Service has been providing Employment rights information, advice and support to vulnerable workers and undertaking research into aspects of the labour market and low pay since 1986 when the organisation was established as the Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit. We provide free, confidential employment rights advice service, by telephone, to anyone living or working in Greater Manchester We also produce a comprehensive range of factsheets on Employment issues, which are available here.
Residents and workers within the Greater Manchester district needing information or advice on their rights at work can contact our advisers on 0161 839 3888. Our advice line is currently open Monday - Friday as follows: (except during Bank Holidays)
Monday 9.00 - 4.00
Tuesday 9.00 - 4.00
Wednesday 9.00 - 4.00
Thursday 9.00 - 4.00
Friday 9.00 - 4.00
Messages can be left on our answer machine out of office hours, or if the advice line is engaged when you ring. If you leave you name and number our advisers will call you back as soon as they can.
Unfortunately we can only advise people who live or work in Greater Manchester. If you live outside Greater Manchester please contact Community Legal Services - www.legalservices.gov.uk, or telephone 08453 45 43 45 for advice.
Other sources of advice
TUC - www.tuc.org.uk
Equality and Human RIghts Commision - www.equalityhumanrights.com
Greater Manchester Migrant Workers Employment Rights Advice Service - www.
GMPERAS, April 2011
GMPERAS has produced a Research Report
'Settled in? which is also featured in the
Spring/Summer 2011 issue of Bottomline
The Research Report features the
Views and Experiences
of Migrant Workers working and living in
Greater Manchester
GMPERAS latest updated booklet
'Having a Baby, Your Rights at Work'
is now available,
the factsheet version is on this website
under the tab of children
News bulletin April 2011
The coalition government`s budget announcement of a 3 year moratorium on domestic legislation for small businesses took effect on 1st April. This means that all businesses that employ less than 10 staff, and new business start-ups, will be exempt from all new UK legislation until April 2014. A business is a ‘start-up’ when it has commenced a trade, profession or vocation on or after 1 April 2011, subject to some qualifications.
On 6th April all the usual statutory rates increased:
- Statutory maternity pay, paternity pay and adoption pay rates all increased to £128.73 per week.
- The National Insurance lower earnings limit increased to £102.
- Statutory sick pay increased to £81.60.
Additional paternity leave and pay became available to parents of children due (or matched for adoption) on or after 3 April 2011. Under the scheme, a new mother will be able to transfer up to six months of her maternity leave to her partner if she decides to return to work before the end of her leave. See our updated factsheet Paternity leave and pay for details.
Increases to the minimum wage rates, to take effect on 1st October 2011, were announced on 12th April:
- Workers aged 21 years and over are currently entitled to £5.93 per hour, rising to £6.08 on 1.1.11.
- Development rate; workers aged 21 and over who are in the first six months of working for a new employer and are undergoing training for a recognised qualification currently get £4.92 per hour, rising to £4.98 on 1.10.11.
- Workers aged 18-20 are currently entitled to £4.92 per hour, rising to £4.98 on 1.10.11.
- Young workers aged 16-17 who have reached the end of compulsory education are currently entitled to £3.64 per hour, rising to £3.68 on 1.10.11.
- Apprentices under 19 are currently entitled to £2.50 per hour from the start of their second year of apprenticeship, rising to £2.60 on 1.10.11. At 19 apprentices become entitled to the 18-20 rate.
The government recommends that apprentices who do not qualify for the minimum wage receive at least the Lower Earnings Limit figure. This is currently £102 per week (to 6th April 2012). See our updated factsheet The minimum wage for the details.
The government`s consultation on Resolving workplace disputes closed on 20th April; we await the government`s response. One of the most controversial measures it proposes is to increase the length of service required before a claim of unfair dismissal can be made, from 1 year to 2 years. We have expressed our concerns that this will decrease job mobility and give the impression to employers that the government does not value job security and workers` rights. Our full response can be viewed in the Research section of the website.
