The United Kingdom’s new Fair Work Agency (FWA) officially commenced operations on April 7, 2026, marking a significant consolidation of labor enforcement powers. Sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade, the agency replaces three previous bodies: the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, and the HMRC’s National Minimum Wage enforcement team.
The FWA is tasked with overseeing a broad spectrum of employment rights, including the National Minimum Wage, statutory sick pay, holiday pay, working hours, and pension entitlements. It also holds authority over modern slavery protections and agency worker rights. Workers can now bypass employment tribunals by filing complaints directly via the FWA’s online portal, which allows the state to investigate grievances on their behalf.
The agency possesses extensive enforcement powers, including the authority to conduct unannounced workplace inspections, demand documentation, and issue Notices of Underpayment for up to six years of historical wage discrepancies. Furthermore, the FWA can publicly name non-compliant businesses and pursue legal action in employment tribunals. A May 2026 report from the agency indicated that 14% of UK workers experienced core legal rights violations in the two years prior to its launch, highlighting the scale of the enforcement gap the body aims to address.