April 1st news in brief

Menicon's Singapore subsidiary has opened a new 6,000sq m R&D and manufacturing facility (pictured) to produce daily disposable contact lenses. The $97m plant features quality control systems and state-of-the-art manufacturing technology developed by the company and will expand its competitiveness and capacity for daily disposable supply to global markets. The facility, with 79 staff, will be a development hub for new technologies, complementing research conducted in Japan.

Since Optician went to press with an article on flexible working (11.03.11), the government said it would repeal regulations due to come into force on April 6 to extend the right to request flexible working. The minor amendment would have extended the right to parents of children under 18. The status quo now stands and the right to request flexible working applies to parents of children under 17, or those of disabled children under 18. Business minister Mark Prisk told the Federation of Small Business members of the change last month.