In December 2003 the DTI announced that it would introduce domestic employment regulations for which it has responsibility on two dates each year: April 6th (the start of the tax year) and October 1st (the annual date on which the minimum wage is revised). The BIS, the current incarnation of what was the DTI, has continued this policy.

Below is a list of employment law related regulations and orders in force on October 1st 2009. Following the more generally signficant ones are links to relevant commentary fact cards on the www.emplaw.co.uk website. You can also go to April 2009 archived notes which note the more important new rules which came into force then.

In addition to the items noted below there are other new "October 2009" matters worth noting here:

1. the replacement of the House of Lords and Privy Council (judicial functions) by the new Supreme Court;
   
2. on 12th October the first main steps to implement the new "vetting and barring" scheme designed to protect children and vulnerable adults will come into force (see Acts of Parliament etc/Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 ); and, rather more mundanely,
   
3. a new ACAS Code of Practice (CoP3) on Time off for trade union duties and activities, including guidance on time off for Trade Union Learning Representatives (see notes at ACAS/codes of practice ).

Order/regulations	Notes	Relevant Emplaw commentary
The Agricultural Wages Order 2009 for England and Wales	Increases in minimum wage for agricultural workers	Minimum Wage/agricultural workers
The Companies (Disqualification Orders) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2471	The Companies (Disqualification Orders) Regulations 2001, SI 2001/967 and amending regulations are revoked and consolidated, with minor amendments.	Company Directors/disqualification of/basic position
The Companies (Disclosure of Address) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/214	Directors’ usual residential addresses will no longer be publicly available from Companies House.	Company Directors/service contracts to be open to inspection
The Companies Act 2006 (Part 35) (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009 SI 2009/1802	detailed amendments to Companies Act 2006 Part 35 - which deals with the functions etc of the registrar of companies	Acts of Parliament etc/Companies Act 2006
The Data Protection (Notification and Notification Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 SI 2002/1677	New fees for notifications to the Information Commissioner	Data protection/a general note
The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Amendment) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2400	updates the European Public Limited-Liability Company Regulations 2004 SI 2004/2326	European Law/directives etc/european company
The European Public Limited-Liability Company (Employee Involvement) (Great Britain) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2401	continues implementation in Great Britain of "single European company" rules in light of the Companies Act 2006	European Law/directives etc/european company
The Identity Cards Act 2006 (Commencement No. 3) Order 2009, SI 2009/2302	Third commencement order is in force from 1st October 2009	Acts of Parliament etc /Identity Cards Act 2006
The Limited Liability Partnerships (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2009 SI 2009/1804	updates regulations in light of the Companies Act 2006	Partnerships /Limited Liability Partnerships
The Limited Liability Partnerships (Amendment) Regulations 2009 SI 2002/1833	correct an error in SI 2009/1804 above	Partnerships /Limited Liability Partnerships
The Limited Partnerships (Forms) Rules 2009 SI 2009/2160	Limited Partnership Rules 1907 are revoked and certain mandatory forms are specifed for use.	Partnerships /Limited Liability Partnerships
The Limited Liability Partnerships (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2009, SSI 2009/310	minor amendments to the Limited Liability Partnerships (Scotland) Regulations 2001, SSI 2001/128	Partnerships /Limited Liability Partnerships
The National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/1902	Annual increase in the NMW and amend the main regulations so that tips can no longer count towards the NMW	Minimum Wage/2008 and 2009 increases and Minimum wage/tips
The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Records) (Amendment) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2428	reduce the fee for an application for a standard criminal records certificate from £31 to £26	Criminal law aspects /vetting of job applicants /position under Police Act 1997
The Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Licences) Regulations 2007 (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2398	adds questions relating to the applicant’s right to work in the United Kingdom to PSIA application form	Specific employments/security guards
The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) (Amendment) Order 2009, SI 2009/2457	adds to the list of "prescribed persons"	Whistleblowing /a general note
The Registrar of Companies (Fees) (Companies, Overseas Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships) Regulations 2009 SI 2009/2101	Details of fees payable to the Registrar of Companies under various provisions of Companies Act 2006	Acts of Parliament etc/Companies Act 2006
The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3) Regulations 2009 SI 2009/2343	Amendments, made under the Welfare Reform Act 2007 to various earnings levels and limits	Social Security/employment related benefits/Incapacity BenefitAppeals#uu
The Work and Families (Increase of the Maximum Amount) Order 2009, SI 2009/1903	increases the cap on a week's pay to £380	Compensation/2009 limit increases
The Workplace Parking Levy (England) Regulations 2009, SI 2009/2085	Workplace Parking Levy likely to come into effect in 2011	Acts of Parliament etc/Transport Act 2000

There is a useful list of Company Law changes in effect on 1st October 2009 on the FPB website