Key employment legislation coming into force in the second half of 2007

Find out which employment legislation will be affecting your business from 1 July 2007

Date	Subject	Development
1 July 2007	Health Act 2006 Smoke-free (Vehicle Operators and Penalty Notices) Regulations 2007 Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2007 Smoke Free (Exemptions and Vehicles) Regulations 2007	The Act introduces in the UK a ban on smoking in enclosed public places and most workplaces. The various sets of regulations provide flesh to the ‘bare bones’ of the Act (for further information see the HR and Legal feature on this site, ‘Guide to a smoke-free workplace – are you ready?’)
1 October 2007	Annual Leave (Amendment to Working Time Legislation) Regulations 2007	Statutory minimum holiday entitlement will increase from 4 to 4.8 weeks (for a full-time worker this will equate to an increase from 20 to 24 days).
1 October 2007	Equality Act 2006	The Act will introduce the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), which will assume the functions of the EOC, CRE and DRC.
1 October 2007	Amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1975	Regulations will further amend the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, following the EOC’s successful application that the Government had not adequately implemented the EC Equal Treatment Directive in relation to sexual harassment, vicarious liability, pregnancy discrimination and maternity leave.
24October 2007	Remaining provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA)	All remaining provisions of the DPA come fully into force – manual filing systems in existence before 24 October 1998 will be required to comply fully with the DPA.