NEWS
6 ASIAN TRADER 2 MAY 2025
The cost of entry-level jobs has
just risen over 10% for retailers
across the country, and by a
massive 13% for those working
part-time.
This is a result of the double
tier of costs hitting the industry
with the rise in National
Insurance Contributions (NICs)
coupled with the increase to the
National Living Wage.
Higher National Living Wage
and changes to employer NICs
will together cost the retail
industry over £5 billion a year,
rising to £7bn when the new
packaging tax (Extended
Producer Responsibility or EPR)
comes into force in October.
The changes to the NIC
threshold, which fell from
£9,100 to £5,000, means many
more part-time and entry-level
jobs will now be captured by the
tax, reducing the incentive for
many businesses to ofer them.
This comes as the Govern-
ment implements its new
welfare reforms aimed at
“helping people who can work
to do so” (Liz Kendall, Work and
Pensions Secretary).
Part-time jobs play an
important role in supporting
people back into work, allowing
people to work the hours they
feel able to do. Unfortunately,
such roles would now cost
businesses 13.5% more (based
on 15 hours per week), as
changes to employer NIC’s
disproportionately afect
flexible and entry-level roles.
According to the most recent
ONS data, there were 1.5 million
part-time jobs in retail in 2024,
the lowest on record, and down
200,000 since 2018.
A recent analysis by the
British Retail Consortium
suggested that a further 160,000
part-time retail roles – more than
1 in 10 – were at risk of being lost
in the next three years.
As Chancellor’s measures take e�ect, stores su�er
Part-time job costs
Part-time job costs
soar for retailers
soar for retailers
A significant portion of the
population is unaware of the
meanings behind packaging
symbols, recent research
shows.
According to a study of
800 British people, 90% of
respondents admitted to
knowing the meaning of
only a few symbols, while 6%
confessed to not under-
standing any at all.
Just a small group (4%)
reported being well-versed
in these symbols, facilitating
more efective waste
separation.
The study found that
when uncertain about which
bin to use for a particular
piece of packaging, 58% rely
on their intuition. Only 17%
consult ofcial waste
separation guidelines,
whereas 21% dispose of such
packaging in the general
waste bin without further
consideration.
The study asked respond-
ents about the meanings of
seven packaging symbols.
On average, 82% correctly
identified them. However,
participants struggled most
with the symbol indicating
that “each piece of packag-
ing, a financial contribution
has been paid to a national
packaging recovery organi-
sation,” with only 12%
recognising it.
Additionally, 14% failed
to identify the glass recy-
cling symbol. In contrast,
nearly all respondents
recognized the symbol
meaning “you should throw
it in the trash after use.”
‘Packaging symbols remain
a mystery for most people’
JW Filshill vape guide
JW Filshill vape guide
ahead of ban
ahead of ban
Glasgow-based wholesaler JW
Filshill is encouraging its customers
to act now to ensure they are
prepared for the June disposable
vapes ban.
Within the new guide, there are
sections on optimising a new range
of vapes with the bestselling
rechargeable devices and how to
best educate staf and customers
about the new regulations and legal
alternatives.
It advises that all remaining
stocks of single-use vapes are sold
before 1 June or disposed of safely,
and to purchase only vapes that
adhere to the new regulations.
Pets Choice acquires
Pets Choice acquires
Pettex, cat-litter arm
Pettex, cat-litter arm
Pet food manufacturer Pets
Choice has agreed to purchase
Pettex Ltd, including the whole of
their Cat Litter and Small Animal
business.
The latest acquisition by Pets
Choice follows the purchase of
Vet’s Kitchen and a number of
brands from PetLife International
last year.
The Pettex owners will be retain-
ing the Reptile and Aquatic
business which will be trading as a
separate entity going forwards
under Pettex Aquatics Ltd.
The brands will join Pets
Choice’s family of oferings, which
include Webbox, Bob Martin,
Felight, Tastybone and B-Calm.
Police accelerate
Police accelerate
shoplifter prosecutions
shoplifter prosecutions
Essex Police is speeding up the
process of putting suspects for
shop thefts before a court, through
two new schemes aimed to improve
conviction.
According to its Business Crime
Team, the schemes will improve
conviction rates while freeing up
ofcers’ time and allowing them to
get back out on the streets of the
neighbourhoods.
In the year to 31 March, ofcers
made 1,374 arrests for shop theft
and assaults on retail staf in Essex
– securing 2,442 charges – and
solved 530 more ofences than in
the previous 12 months.