Amendments to Part-Time Workers Regulations

The government has today announced two amendments to the Part Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000.

First, the requirement that a part-time fixed-term worker must be compared with a full-time fixed-term worker, rather than a full-time permanent contract worker, will be removed. This is because the distinction may encourage less favourable treatment of fixed-term workers, and thus is contrary to the EC Fixed Term Workers Directive.

Second, the two-year backdating limit for pension schemes in regulation 8(8) will be removed, so as to comply with the House of Lord's judgment in Preston v Wolverhampton Health Authority (which was handed down in February 2001!).

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