Employment Relations Act 1999 Commencement Orders Nos 1 to 9 (see below)


BASIC POSITION

A few minor provisions of the Employment Relations Act 1999 came into force on 30th September 1999 but the first important parts to take effect came into force on 25th October 1999 (notably the increase in the "cap" on compensatory award from £12,000 to £50,000 - see ACTS OF PARLIAMENT etc/Employment Relations Act 1999/compensation limits ).

The new statutory provisions for index-linking other maximum compensation award limits came into force on 17th December 1999 and the first index-linking order made under those provisions came into effect on 1st February 2000 (the Employment Rights (Increases of Limits) Order 1999, SI 1999/3375 and see Indexation of awards ). Other important parts of Employment Relations Act 1999 came into force on 15th December 1999 (notably the new parental leave provisions - the maternity leave provisions did not come fully into force until 30th April 2000 - see Maternity/Maternity leave/general ).

Note that the reduction from 2 years to 1 year in the period of employment required for an employee to be eligible for unfair dismissal rights is not implemented by the Employment Relations Act 1999 but by June 1999 regulations (the Unfair Dismissal and Statement of Reasons for Dismissal (Variation of Qualifying Period) Order 1999, SI 1999/1436 - see Qualifying periods of service for rights/unfair dismissal/normal cases ).

The new rules concerning rights of trade unions to insist on recognition by employers for purposes of collective bargaining (see Trade union matters/recognition ) were brought into effect on 6th June 2000 by The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Commencement No. 6 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2000

The new right for an employee to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings began on 4th September 2000 (Employment Relations Act 1999 s.10 to s.15) and the date for commencement of the new rules on ballots and notices in connection with industrial action is 18th September 2000 (Employment Relations Act 1999 s.4 and Employment Relations Act 1999 sch.3).


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updated April2001

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