BUSINESSES are bracing themselves for 12 new regulations coming into force today.
Last night, the North-East Chamber of Commerce warned that the region's companies risked losing their competitive edge unless the Government addressed red tape.
It said the biggest impact would come from increases in the minimum wage from today, which will add about £60m to the region's wage bill this year, and another £92.8m next October.
North-East companies have already been weighed down by £1.16bn-worth of red tape costs since 1997, the chamber said.
George Cowcher, NECC chief executive, said: "This 'Dirty Dozen' will affect everything from food to cars. It will affect wages, auditing, employment tribunals, industrial action and intellectual property law.
"Businesses don't want to run amok, and we appreciate the need to work within guidelines, but the level of regulation is ridiculous. It is costing jobs and livelihoods and is a shackle around the neck of this region."
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