Fair Work Agency: A New Era for Employment Rights Enforcement
From April 2026, the UK will see the creation of the Fair Work Agency (FWA) a new Executive Agency of the Department for Business and Trade. As Jimmy Ogunshakin and Arran Dowling-Hussey explain, the FWA is designed to simplify and strengthen the state’s approach to enforcing employment rights.
By consolidating the work of existing enforcement bodies including the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Enforcement Team, and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the FWA aims to become a one-stop shop for workforce rights.
Key functions include:
• Enforcing payment of statutory entitlements such as holiday pay, sick pay and the national minimum wage.
• Issuing notices of underpayment requiring employers to make payments within 28 days, with penalties of up to 200%.
• Exercising inspection and investigatory powers to ensure compliance.
• Providing representation and legal advice in employment and labour relations matters.
While the FWA is not independent of government, it represents a significant step toward a fairer and more consistent enforcement regime - reducing duplication and improving accountability across employment law oversight.
Read on by clicking the link provide here.
Members of 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square’s Employment Group are available to advise on all aspects of employment law and workplace regulation, providing timely, pragmatic support to both employers and employees.
