These are the new laws coming in during 2020 – ExaminerLive

A number of laws will be changing in 2020 and many will affect your daily lives.

The changes in legislation will have an impact on pensions, workers rights, holiday pay and even life-saving organ donations.

More new laws are likely to be added as the year progresses and with the General Election having just taken place and with Brexit looming, some laws may change.

Here are some of the new laws, regulations and changes which will come into force this year:

State pension rates are undergoing their biggest change in years in 2020.

They are set to rise by 3.9 per cent which will see those receiving the old state pension receive a boost of 5.05 a week to 134.25.

Those who are receiving the new state pension will see a bigger increase of 6.60 a week resulting in 175.20.

The old state pension refers to those who reached pension age by April 6 2016 and the new state pension goes to those who reached state pension age after April 6 2016.

In September 2018, a new workplace right for paid leave to be given to bereaved parents was officially enshrined in law.

The first of its kind in the UK, the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Act 2018 is expected to come into force in April 2020 and will give employed parents the right to two weeks leave if they lost a child under the age of 18 or suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Employed parents will also be able to claim pay for this period, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

Agency workers rights are also changing in 2020.

From April 6 2020, the following things will apply:

Abolition of the Swedish Derogation: This may also be known as the 'pay between assignments' contracts which would previously see agency workers agree a contract that would remove their rights to equal pay with permanent counterparts after 12 weeks working at the same assignment. From April 6, these will no longer be permissible and agency workers who have been in their employment for 12 weeks will be entitled to the same pay as those on permanent contracts.

All agency workers will be entitled to a key information document that more clearly sets out their employment relationships and terms and conditions with their agency.

Agency workers who are considered to be employees will be protected from unfair dismissal or suffering a detriment if the reasons are related to asserting rights associated with The Agency Worker Regulations.

From 6 April 2020, the reference period to calculate a 'week's pay' for holiday pay purposes will be extended from the previous 12 weeks of work to the previous 52 weeks.

In England, people currently have a choice as to whether they sign up to be an organ donor.

But from spring 2020, organ donation will become an 'opt-out' system for those over 18.

This means that all adults in England will be seen to have agreed to be an organ donor when they die unless they have specifically recorded a decision not to donate or are considered to be in one of the excluded groups - which includes those under 18 and people who lack the mental capacity to understand the new arrangements and take the necessary action

The new system may also be referred to as Max and Keira's law.

Max Johnson was given the gift of life by a young girl called Keira Ball, who tragically passed away aged 9 years old.

Keira's parents made the incredibly difficult and selfless decision to help others.

Max and his family have also continued to campaign and raise awareness around organ donation and it was Max who wanted Kiera's name added to the new law.

The NHS are asking everyone to record their organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell their family and friends what decision has been made.

A new law being introduced in April will see a clampdown on 'cruel' puppy farms and dealers.

Lucy's Law will ban the sale of puppies and kittens from third parties, making buyers deal directly with breeders or rehoming centres.

When it comes into force in spring, the new legislation requires puppies and kittens in England to be born and reared in a safe environment, kept with their mother and only sold from their place of birth, instead of a pet shop or commercial animal dealer.

The law was named after Lucy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who died in 2016 after being poorly treated on a Welsh puppy farm.

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These are the new laws coming in during 2020 - ExaminerLive