The Department for the Economy has announced plans for the most significant reform of Northern Ireland\u2019s employment legislation in over 25 years, following the consultation on the \u2018Good Jobs\u2019 Employment Rights Bill.
\nOn 28 April 2025, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald outlined proposals for an Employment Bill, supported by secondary legislation, statutory codes of practice, and updated guidance. The proposals, which will now be submitted to the Executive, aim to modernise workplace protections and bring Northern Ireland in line with employment developments across the rest of the UK and Republic of Ireland.
\nMinister Archibald stated:
\n\u201cEveryone benefits from Good Jobs. Workers and families benefit from a decent wage. Employers benefit from a larger, more productive workforce. And the public finances will benefit from greater prosperity and a reduction in poverty.\u201d
\nThe Minister added:
\n\u201cThis is an ambitious package of reforms to employment law which will see the biggest upgrade of our employment legislation since the Good Friday Agreement.\u201d
\nThe proposed reforms are grouped under four themes:
\n1. Terms of Employment
\n2. Pay and Benefits
\n3. Voice and Representation
\n4. Work-Life Balance
\nThe key proposals include:
\n\u2022 Ending exploitative zero-hour contracts through the introduction of banded hours, advance shift notices and compensation for late cancellations
\n\u2022 Abolishing exclusivity clauses for low-paid workers
\n\u2022 Tackling \u2018fire and rehire\u2019 practices, making it automatically unfair to dismiss an employee to impose new terms without agreement.
\n\u2022 Ensuring full tips are passed on to workers, supported by a statutory code of practice on fairness and transparency.
\n\u2022 Strengthening protections for agency workers, including clearer assignment terms and the removal of the \u201cSwedish derogation\u201d.
\n\u2022 Enhancing family-related rights with the introduction of carer\u2019s leave, neonatal leave and associated pay.
\n\u2022 Stronger trade union rights, including better workplace access and the introduction of secure e-balloting.
\nWhile no immediate changes will occur, the Minister has written to the Executive to seek formal endorsement. The proposals will be on the Executive Agenda and need cross-party support.
\nThe Department has indicated that a draft bill is expected by January 2026, with the aim of enacting the legislation before the end of the current Assembly mandate in 2027.
\nThe Employment Team at O\u2019Reilly Stewart Solicitors can provide expert advice to any employers seeking guidance. Please do not hesitate to contact the Team on 02890321000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Department for the Economy has announced plans for the most significant reform of Northern Ireland\u2019s employment legislation in over 25 years, following the consultation on the \u2018Good Jobs\u2019 Employment Rights Bill. On 28 April 2025, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald outlined proposals for an Employment Bill, supported by secondary legislation, statutory codes of practice, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"class_list":["post-5840","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n