• Early Conciliation

    The Labour Relations Agency provides an Early Conciliation service following a change in NI employment law which took effect on 27 January 2020.  This service helps to resolve workplace disputes in a legally binding way, without the need to take a case to the Industrial or Fair Employment Tribunal. Click below for more information or to make an Early Conciliation notification.

     

  • Employment Document Toolkit

    Once you are registered you can unlock our free core employment guides to help you build documents, policies and procedures for your own organisation.

  • The Value of Trade Unions - Podcast

    In the 7th Podcast in our “Challenging Workplaces” series, we discuss the value of trade unions in the workplace.

    LRA Director Mark McAllister, is joined by Nita Clarke OBE, Director of the Involvement & Participation Association (IPA), Jacquie White, General Secretary of the Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) and Clare Moore, Equality and Social Affairs Officer with the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC ICTU).

  • Events - How to Register - Demo Video

    This short video provides step-by-step instructions on how to register for an event on our website.

Contractor or Worker

Your rights differ depending on whether you are a contractor or a worker.

Find out what you're entitled to.

Latest News

  • New rates for National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage

    03 April 2024

    From the 1st of April 2024, the changes in respect of the above are as follows:

    * If you are 21 and over, you will be entitled to £11.44 per hour (National Living Wage)

    * If you are between 18-20, you are entitled to £8.60

    * If you are under 18 or an Apprentice, you will be entitled to £6.40

    Please note that to avail of the National Minimum Wage you must be at least of school leaving age

    In Northern Ireland this means If you turn 16 during the school year (between the 1st of September and the 1st of July) you can leave school after the 30th of June.

    If you turn 16 between 2 July and 31 August you can’t leave school until 30 June the following year.

    You can access the relevant legislation by clicking on the link below

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/432/made

     

  • New rates for statutory payments in force from April 2024.

    27 March 2024

    From April 2024 a number of statutory payment rates increase for the 2024-25 financial year.

    Below are the links which relate to the changes in respect of Social Security Benefits and the increases in limits to the Employment Rights Order.

     

     

     

  • Flexible working - the essence of a ‘good job’?

    15 March 2024

    “Redefining the concept of a ‘good’ job, which embraces flexibility in all its forms, is a necessity if we’re to achieve a more inclusive and productive economy.”

Upcoming events

Popular tools and resources

  • The Value of Trade Unions - Podcast

    In the 7th Podcast in our “Challenging Workplaces” series, we discuss the value of trade unions in the workplace.

    LRA Director Mark McAllister, is joined by Nita Clarke OBE, Director of the Involvement & Participation Association (IPA), Jacquie White, General Secretary of the Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) and Clare Moore, Equality and Social Affairs Officer with the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (NIC ICTU).

    Last modified: 12 April 2024
  • Four Day Working Week Podcast

    Four day working week

    In the fourth podcast in the "Challenging Workplaces" series, we discuss the four day week, and whether it might be time to reassess the traditional Monday to Friday working pattern in the modern workplace.

    Last modified: 04 July 2023
  • Employment Document Toolkit - How to Register - Demo Video

    Toolkit

    This video provides step by step instructions on how to sign up to our new, free, online employment document toolkit.

    Last modified: 15 September 2022
  • Practical Guide to Hybrid Working - LRA - October 2021

    This practical guide offers support to those considering introducing hybrid working in their organisations.  It sets out the key considerations and offers a sample policy.  Free to download.

    Last modified: 27 January 2022

About the Labour Relations Agency

We provide an impartial and confidential employment relations service to those engaged in industry, commerce and the public services. Our services include the provision of advice on good employment practices and assistance with the development and implementation of employment policies and procedures. We are also active in resolving disputes through our conciliation, mediation and arbitration services.

When people contact the Labour Relations Agency it is quite often because things are not going well in the workplace and this can be upsetting and, at times, emotional. We are here to help by listening, giving non-directive advice or whichever service we can provide in a free, impartial and independent manner. Whilst our staff are trained to handle difficult calls and callers in an understanding and empathetic way, we cannot tolerate our staff being subjected to any form of verbal abuse, bullying or harassment.

When a customer’s behaviour crosses the threshold from being upset to becoming abusive, we have advised our staff to follow an operational guideline to get them out of harm’s way and away from the abusive caller. Work can be hard enough without taking it out on someone who is here to help if they can, so please respect our staff.