Major Upgrades in Employment Rights: What You Need to Know

Economy Minister Dr. Caoimhe Archibald unveiled a comprehensive reform package aimed at enhancing employment rights in Northern Ireland. The proposed reforms under four key themes - Terms of Employment, Pay and Benefits, Voice and Representation, and Work-Life Balance - are designed to ensure fairness for both workers and employers. The new legislation addresses issues like zero-hours contracts, payment transparency, holiday pay calculation, and the 'right to disconnect.' Additionally, the Bill emphasizes the importance of workers' voices in the workplace by lowering the union recognition threshold and promoting sectoral collective bargaining. Overall, these changes aim to establish a framework where decent work is the standard, benefiting workers and businesses alike.