New maternity rights mean that women who choose to take additional maternity leave will be entitled to the same contractual job benefits (i.e. company cars) as they were in the first 26 weeks of their maternity leave. 

The regulations came into force on 6th April but will apply to employees whose expected week of childbirth begins on or after 5 October 2008.

Equal treatment for agency workers.  Agency workers in the UK are set to receive equal treatment after 12 weeks’ employment.

Under proposals agreed between the Government and trade unions in May, agency workers will be given equal pay and holiday entitlements after 12 weeks in a job. 

However, the agreement will not cover sick pay or pension payments while temporary staff will have to work the same length of time as full-time workers to enjoy paid maternity leave. 

The Government plans to pass the equal treatment legislation this autumn but this depends on a similar EU directive being passed before then.

EU members are currently debating legislation on the issue and a number of key issues remain undecided. Only when Brussels passes a directive will the UK government be able to put forward "implementing" legislation of its own.

 

48 hour opt out. Employers in Britain have retained the right to ask employees to work more than 48 hours a week.

Under the EU's working time directive, most European countries have a maximum working week of 48 hours. However a clause in the directive means member states can opt-out, allowing employees to work a longer week. 

Workers choosing to opt out will be subject to a maximum of 60 hours, averaged out over three months enabling them to work longer hours in busy periods.