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No.521 Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2003
This Order amends the 2000 Order of the same name which specifies a number of persons or bodies as public authorities for certain purposes under the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998.
No 507 The Fair Employment (Specification of Public Authorities) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007
This Order amends the 2004 Order of the same name by amending those specified persons or bodies as public authorities for certain purposes under the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998.
Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
This legislation was enacted by the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022 and came into effect on 12th May 2024.
From this date, it will be unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of religious or philosophical belief or political opinion in respectof the recruitment or promotion of teachers in schools in Northern Ireland.
Prior to 2003, FETO, and its predecessors, did not prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religious or philosophical belief or political opinion in relation to any aspect of the employment of school teachers. That was due to the effects of article 71 of FETO, commonly known as the teachers’ exception.
This situation changed through a process that began in 2003 when an EU equality law, Council Directive 2000/78/EC, required the exception to be modified and
narrowed. As a result, and since then, FETO has prohibited discrimination on its equality grounds in relation to most aspects of the employment of teachers in
schools; e.g. in relation to pay, training, absence and performance management,
dismissal, harassment.
Despite that change, FETO’s prohibition of discrimination did not apply to the recruitment or promotion of teachers in schools due to the continuing effects of one part of the article 71 exception that remained.
The remaining gap in coverage was filled on 12 May 2024 with the inrtoduction of this legislation.
Employer-led Early Conciliation
Early Conciliation is available to employers who are dealing with a workplace dispute which could result in a claim being made to the Industrial or Fair Employment Tribunal. The employer's representative can also contact us to request Early Conciliation on the employer's behalf.
465 Equal Pay (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
These Regulations provide for an Industrial Tribunal to have greater procedural discretion in equal value pay claims in relation to the use (or not) of independent experts.
No.367 Fair Employment (specification of public authorities) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
This Order amends the 2000 Order of the same name which specifies a number of bodies or persons as public bodies for the purposes of the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 (see new Schedule).
604 Employment Protection (Continuity of Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
These Regulations, as of 2nd February 1997, revoke and replace the Industrial Relations (Continuity of Employment) Regulations of 1994 and relate to maintenance of continuity of employment where a dismissed employee is reinstated or re-engaged in certain circumstances.
Informal actions
Whether it’s the employer who needs to raise an issue with an employee, or an employee who would like to make a complaint to their employer, it is useful to consider in the first instance whether an informal approach could be taken to resolve the matter.
Right to work in Northern Ireland
It is important that an employer checks that a job applicant is allowed to work in the UK before they can employ them. An employer could face a civil penalty if they employ an illegal worker and have not carried out a correct right to work check.
Employers must check the applicant's identity and nationality and make sure that they have the relevant immigration permission or visa in place.
Misconduct and gross misconduct
Disciplinary issues arise when the employer has concerns about an employee’s conduct, absence from work or the way they are performing in their job. They may start a disciplinary procedure which could lead to disciplinary action (including dismissal in more serious cases).