Explanatory note

This Order brings into operation on 1st January 1977 the provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 specified in Schedule 1. These provisions enable orders to be made excluding employees from the operation of section 22 (which relates to guarantee payments) and replace section 8 of the Terms and Conditions of Employment Act 1959 (repealing that Act), with a consequential amendment of the Redundancy Payments Act 1965.

The Order also brings into operation on 1st February 1977 the provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 specified in Schedule 2. These provisions relate to guarantee payments, amendments to the Contracts of Employment Act 1972 to reduce the minimum weekly hours of work necessary to qualify for certain rights, and amendments to the Supplementary Benefit Act 1966 and to the Social Security Act 1975 in connection with disentitlement to unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit during a trade dispute.