National Minimum Wage rates are increased.  The main rate (Age 22+) rises from £5.73 per hour to £5.80 per hour, and the development rate (Age 18-21) from £4.77 per hour to £4.83 per hour.  The youth rate (Age 16-17) increases from £3.53 per hour to £3.57 per hour

National Minimum Wage legislation is amended to stop employers using tips to top up staff pay in order to meet the National Minimum Wage

Limits on a week's pay when calculating redundancy payments and awards such as unfair dismissal rises from £350 to £380

Minimum statutory holiday entitlement increases from 24 to 28 days from 1st April 2009

Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay increases from £117.18 to £123.06 from 5th April 2009

Statutory sick pay increases from £75.40 to £79.15 after 6th April 2009

Right to request flexible working is extended to parents of children up to the age of 16 from April 2009

Repeal of the dispute resolution procedures from 6th April 2009: Section 98A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 is repealed, returning the law on unfair dismissal to the position prior to the dispute resolution procedures coming into force in October 2004.

Revised Acas Discipline & Grievance Code of Practice comes into force on 6th April 2009: where there is a breach of the Code, a Tribunal can increase or decrease any award made by up to 25%

New points based immigration system: tier four, covering students, implemented from Spring 2009