What a couple of months! Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter, in what has been a significant period of developments in employment and immigration law.
The Government's Immigration White Paper, published this month, sets out the latest set of changes that employers will need to navigate. In particular, the impact for employers of the proposed policy change towards a high skill, high-cost immigration model, despite continuing skills shortages in certain occupations. This can be contrasted with the position in the UAE, as outlined by my colleague Rachel Hill, where flexible immigration reforms mean the borders are widening bringing socio-economic challenges of their own.
Alongside these proposals, employers have been navigating the implications of the For Women Scotland decision regarding the meaning of sex in the Equality Act. For many employers this has proved to be a challenging time, trying to balance the many competing considerations, and the approach to these matters internationally.
We will be discussing all of this (and more) in depth at our Annual Training Day on 18 June. We would be delighted to see you there, details below.
Editorial - by Sarah Harrop
UK Supreme Court judgment on the meaning of sex in the Equality Act 2010 and the interim EHRC guidance
Following the UK Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of "sex" in the Equality Act 2010, the EHRC published interim guidance on the practical implications of the judgment. Find out what it means here.
Navigating Shifting Sands: The retreat from diversity pledges and the UK business landscape
With the global shift in DEI following the change in stance in the US, we take a look at what it might mean for the future of DEI initiatives in the UK and their impact on corporate culture and ethics. Find out more here.
Immigration White Paper indicates huge changes for UK sponsors – what does this mean for employers?
The Immigration White Paper "Restoring control over the Immigration System" was published on 12 May 2025 and will bring huge changes for UK employers and sponsors. We look at what we know so far. Read about the latest developments here.
UAE Immigration: The impact of relaxed laws, talent influx and the strain on the job market
We take a look at the latest developments to immigration laws in the United Arab Emirates. Find out more.
International Update: New obligations for pay transparency – What companies should know now
The EU Pay Transparency Directive must be implemented by Member States by June 2026. We take a look at what the new obligations will be and what EU-based businesses should be doing now. Find out what employers need to know here.
Upcoming Events:
Our upcoming Immigration Webinar will look at the changes recently announced in the Immigration White Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System. We will provide insight into the proposed changes and their potential impact for employers and give practical guidance on how to prepare for what may lie ahead. Please do join us for this unmissable webinar taking place from 1.00pm to 1.50pm on 3 June 2025. To register for the event, please visit our registration page here.
Our annual Employment and Immigration Training Day for in-house lawyers and senior HR professionals will be taking place in our London office on Wednesday, 18 June 2025.
We will be looking at the future of work, covering all the employment and immigration changes in the pipeline, latest global workforce trends, harassment at work and more. We are also delighted to welcome our guest speaker William Higham, a Futurist and author of "The Next Big Thing", who will share what the expectations will be for tomorrow's companies and offer advice, tips and strategies for those businesses to thrive. It promises to be a very popular event. To register for the event, please visit our registration page here.
For our Employment and Immigration Training Calendar 2025 listing all our client training events, please visit our website page here.
What else you should know
- Find out about the latest changes to Irish Employment Permits Online System here.
