Northern Ireland employment law

Most employment law in Northern Ireland mirrors that in Great Britain, but the coalition’s dilution of employment rights over the last couple of years has not applied in Northern Ireland.

However, the Assembly is now playing catch up. The Department for Employment and Learning is reviewing employment law and consulting on a number of the detrimental changes recently introduced in Great Britain.

In the foreword to the consultation document, Dr Stephen Farry, minister for employment and learning, said: “Where it is in the best interests of Northern Ireland, I am committed to taking the necessary steps to divert from the GB policy position and to develop local tailored solutions.”

He describes the consultation as the most significant review of employment law since the establishment of the current Assembly.

The issues for consultation include:

• increasing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal to two years and capping compensation awards;

• introducing a system of protected conversations;

• reducing consultation periods for collective redundancies;

• changes to whistle-blowing provisions; and

• extending the Labour Relations Agency’s dispute resolution services by having early conciliation before submission of tribunal claims.

The consultation runs until 5 November 2013.

www.northernireland.gov.uk/news-del-160713-farry-launches-wide