KENT’S business leaders have welcomed the common start date for new employment laws, but warned it should not be seen as a substitute for more fundamental action.

The Kent branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD) said a single start date of October 1 for new legislation makes it easier for businesses to keep up to date with new rules, but ministers still need to cut the overall volume of regulatory burdens on firms.

Alyson Howard, chairman of the IoD Kent, said: "The common commencement date approach is welcome and should be extended beyond employment measures, but more action is needed to get to the root of the red tape problem.

"We still need to tackle the pro-regulation mindset that pervades Whitehall and Brussels. With around half of new business regulations originating in Brussels, the new approach will fail unless it is extended to EU measures as well.”

The legislation taking effect from October 1 includes: new dispute resolution regulations; new employment tribunal rules; amendments to the Disability Discrimination Act; and changes to the minimum wage.