TO BE PUBLISHED November 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for labour market enforcement following establishment of the Fair Work Agency and wider implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025. Areas for discussion include the first phase of delivery of the FWA, new enforcement and compliance frameworks, National Minimum Wage changes, reform of the temporary labour market, regulation of agency work and umbrella companies, and the future for dispute resolution and trade union relations.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to assess priorities for labour market enforcement as the FWA begins operating and assumes responsibility for a wider range of functions and powers - with a forthcoming Transitional Year Delivery Plan anticipated in response to the Government’s recently published Strategic steer. Discussion will consider the development of the FWA’s operating model, approaches to balancing compliance support with investigation and sanctions, and implications of bringing together enforcement responsibilities previously exercised across multiple bodies.
The agenda will also explore priorities for employers, agencies and workforce groups as reform to labour market regulation and employment rights takes effect, including changes to the National Minimum Wage, the Agency Work Regulatory Framework, and duties under the Employment Rights Act including Statutory Sick Pay from the first day of sickness absence, expanded trade union right of access, and forthcoming reform relating to unfair dismissal, dismissal and re-engagement, and zero-hours and low-hours contracts. Delegates will assess how this, together with the forthcoming extension of employment tribunal time limits to six months, is likely to affect tribunal capacity and wider employment relations.
Role & responsibilities of the Fair Work Agency
Delegates will consider the leadership, governance, resourcing and accountability arrangements needed for the first phase of FWA delivery, including preparations for its forthcoming Transitional Year Delivery Plan.
Areas for discussion include:
- governance: organisational capacity and capability - service continuity during transition - how funding and resources can be directed - reducing system fragmentation
- operating model: approaches to balancing compliance support for businesses with investigation and sanctions - defining what proportionality and fairness looks like within a new system for enforcement
- powers: integration of functions and powers inherited from existing enforcement bodies - preparations for extending state enforcement to additional employment rights
- holiday pay: changes to enforcement from 2027 - looking ahead to the outcome of the Government’s consultation on holiday pay compliance and enforcement
- preparing for reform: effective practice for businesses, including smaller employers - access to guidance and compliance support - managing transition costs and administrative requirements
Temporary labour market regulatory framework, accountability & worker protections
Sessions will look at the future regulation of agency work and umbrella companies in the context of the FWA assuming responsibility for functions previously carried out by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate. The operation of new joint and several liability rules for PAYE in labour supply chains involving umbrella companies and the anticipated response from the Government to its consultation on modernising the Agency Work Regulatory Framework will also be discussed.
Attendees will consider:
- new enforcement framework: approaches to application and responsibilities - supporting compliance across complex labour supply chains
- tax governance and liability: implications of new PAYE rules for agencies, umbrella companies and end clients - allocation of financial responsibility across labour supply chains - due diligence, contractual arrangements and workforce planning
- wider labour market flexibility: maintaining flexibility while strengthening protections for workers - access to talented flexible labour for businesses - responsiveness of the market to evolving skills needs
- employment status: protections for self-employed, freelance and contracted labour - rights and access to work for those in the temporary labour market
Labour market relations & dispute resolution
Further sessions explore implications of recent employment rights reform for workplace dispute resolution and collective employment relations. With enforcement responsibility for new Statutory Sick Pay measures expected to fall within the remit of the FWA, delegates will assess the interaction between enforcement activity, Acas conciliation and the employment tribunal system.
This includes:
- reform: forthcoming increase to employment tribunal time limits for making a claim - further changes in 2027 to unfair dismissal, flexible working rights and zero-hours and low-hours contracts
- managing demand: potential ways forward for supporting earlier resolution of disputes - implications of wider tribunal reform
- enforcement: intelligence and data-led approaches to targeting activity - co-ordination between enforcement, conciliation and regulatory bodies
- modernisation: updating and streamlining regulations to reflect current working practices and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens
- coordination: practicalities for supporting effective relations between employers, trade unions, workers, Acas, EHRC, CAC and other bodies - public awareness of rights and obligations
- trade unions: implementation of new union measures, rights and responsibilities - workplace access arrangements - recognition processes - employer obligations under the new framework
National Minimum Wage enforcement
The agenda will also look at preparations for changes to National Minimum Wage, including approaches to identifying and addressing non-compliance, employer engagement and guidance, and the use of investigations, penalties and naming measures to support compliance.
Discussion will consider:
- common areas of risk for employers: payroll practices - deductions - salary sacrifice arrangements - record-keeping requirements
- emerging lessons: assessing recent enforcement activity - priorities for strengthening confidence in the labour market enforcement regime
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
