NEWS
8 ASIAN TRADER 24 JANUARY 2025
Justin Madders, the minister
for employment rights,
competition and markets, has
written to the Association of
Convenience Stores (ACS)
recognising the challenges
faced by the convenience
sector and pledging to
collaborate with its members
when implementing upcom-
ing legislation introduced by
the Employment Rights Bill.
The government in
October set out its plans for a
sweeping package of new
workers’ rights including
plans to end fire-and-rehire
practices and strengthening
of sick pay in the biggest
change to employment law in
a generation.
Key reforms include
making flexible working the
default, introducing a new
right to bereavement leave,
enabling day-one access to
paternity and unpaid
parental leave, and strength-
ening protections for
pregnant women and new
mothers. The bill also
addresses zero-hours
contracts, granting workers
on such arrangements the
right to request more
predictable hours and receive
reasonable shift notices.
In his letter, the minister
recognised convenience
colleagues as essential
workers who provide local,
secure, and flexible work, and
praised the good record of ACS
members providing secure
permanent contracts and
giving good notice for shifts.
As highlighted by the ACS
Local Shop Report 2024, the
convenience sector provides
local, flexible and secure
employment for around
445,000 people and this year
generated £9bn in tax income
for the Treasury.
“We are determined to
ensure that our legislation is
introduced pragmatically,
working with businesses like
yours, so that the implemen-
tation of these changes can be
managed constructively,”
Madders wrote.
He invited ACS to work in
partnership to help ensure
the reforms “get the right
balance and put the principles
we all share into practice”.
Minister says he will be fair and sensible drafting new Bill
Madders promises ‘pragmatic
Madders promises ‘pragmatic
approach’ on Employment Rights
approach’ on Employment Rights
An anonymous group
consisting of current and
former employees of the Post
Ofce and Royal Mail have
called on the Forfeiture
Committee to remove
honours awarded to 14
individuals connected to the
Post Ofce Horizon scandal.
The 14 names mentioned
by the group includes former
ministers, civil servants, and
Post Ofce and Royal Mail
bosses such as Vince Cable
KCB, Ed Davey KCB, Jo
Swinson CBE, Donald Brydon
CBE, Moya Green DBE, Alan
Cook CBE and Alwen Lyons
OBE.
The group has written to
the committee listing the
names of individuals who it
said “owned, oversaw,
governed and ran the Post
Ofce” during the scandal,
Computer Weekly reported.
The letter stated, “We are
deeply concerned by the
testimony given under or to
the inquiry ... has revealed
beyond any doubt the
incompetence, negligence,
restlessness, ethical corrup-
tion and wilful blindness (‘not
me guv’ attitude) of certain
individuals at the heart of
Whitehall, all of whom have
been bestowed with honours.
“There can be no better an
example of rewards for failure
than those who owned,
oversaw, governed and ran the
Post Ofce.”
Calls raised to remove honours
of 14 Horizon grandees
JTI ‘cutting edge’ centre
JTI ‘cutting edge’ centre
opens in Crewe
opens in Crewe
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has
completed a significant refurbishment
of its National Distribution Centre in
Crewe following an investment of £7.8
million into the facility to enhance
employee wellbeing and drive
operational excellence.
Originally opened in 1994, the site
is crucial to JTI’s UK operations and
handles the distribution of all UK
products including tobacco, Nordic
Spirit, and Ploom products. It
despatches an impressive 12,000
customer orders annually, equivalent
to 18 billion sticks across JTI’s diverse
portfolio which includes heritage
brands Benson & Hedges, and Mayfair.
Surya Foods takes major
Surya Foods takes major
stake in Karma Bites
stake in Karma Bites
World foods outfit Surya Foods has
acquired a major stake in health snack
brand Karma Bites, as part of a
strategy to boost its presence in
snacking.
Karma Bites produces a range of
naturally flavoured, popped lotus
seeds, a popular snack with a rich
history in Chinese and Ayurvedic
medicine.
Surya Foods achieved an
impressive 30% increase in revenue
last year and now supplies almost half
of the UK’s branded dry rice supply
across its leading UK Top 10 rice
brands: Laila, Salaam and Mai Thai.
Wales unveils £10m
Wales unveils £10m
commerce rejuvenation
commerce rejuvenation
fund
fund
The Welsh government has an-
nounced £10m in Financial Transac-
tion Capital to fund regeneration
projects in town and city centres
across the country
Transforming Towns Loans
supports local authorities with urban
regeneration projects and has
allocated more than £62m since its
launch in 2014. The aim of the scheme
is to reduce the number of vacant and
underutilised sites and buildings to
diversify our town centre ofers and
increase footfall.
The funding also encourages more
sustainable uses for empty premises,
to prevent activity from relocating to
edge-of-town development.