April is a month of change in terms of employment law and Statutory Rates

As well as the increase in the national minimum wage and the national living wage, the introduction of the apprenticeship levy and increase of the statutory redundancy pay, the following will also change.

The rates for statutory family-related pay and sick pay are increasing.

• The new weekly rate of statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay is £140.98 effective from the 2nd of April 2017.
• The new weekly rate for statutory sick pay is £89.35 effective from the 6th of April 2017.

Immigration skills charge

An immigration skills charge is introduced for employers who sponsor skilled workers on a tier 2 visa:

• These employers will have to pay £1,000 per certificate of sponsorship per year as part of a levy, whilst small employers and charities will have to pay £364.
• This is due to come into force on the 6th of April 2017.

Also from the 6th of April 2017, the tier 2 visa salary threshold is increasing to £30,000.00.