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Landmark Employment Bill passes final Assembly stage

16 June 2010

The Final Stage of the Employment Bill was passed yesterday by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Welcoming the Assembly’s approval of the Bill, Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey said: “This represents an important milestone towards ensuring that we have in place an effective body of employment law in Northern Ireland.  

“The provisions of this Bill will provide for some important changes, protecting the interests of not only employees and those seeking employment, but also safeguarding compliant employment agencies against unscrupulous agencies which would attempt to abuse vulnerable workers or break the law to gain an unfair advantage.”  

The Employment Bill presents a range of powers to take forward various objectives in the employment field.  These include enhanced powers to deal with employment agencies in serious breach of the law, including the possibility of unlimited fines.  A further improvement is that Industrial Tribunals will now have the power to order payment of financial compensation to workers who have suffered unfair losses in relation to non payment of redundancy or unlawful deductions from wages.

The Minister concluded: “It is important to recognise that this is a landmark Bill, the first piece of primary legislation in the employment field delivered by the Assembly.  In these difficult economic times, it is increasingly important that necessary employment protections are in place, which - while not undermining labour market flexibility - provide protection to workers.’’

Notes to editors:

  1. The Employment Bill [NIA 9/08] passed its Final Stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 15 June 2010 and is expected to become law soon.
  2. The purpose of the Employment Bill is to make provision about the enforcement of legislation relating to employment agencies and the minimum wage; to make provision about the membership of, and representation before, the Industrial Court; to provide for compensation for financial loss in cases of unlawful underpayment or non-payment; and for connected purposes.  An Explanatory and Financial Memorandum is printed separately and is available from The Stationery Office, Belfast.
  3. All media enquiries should be directed to the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch, on 028 9025 7872.  Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.