Search Results
Changes to Fit Note requirements in Northern Ireland
The requirements for doctors fit notes in Northern Ireland have been amended to remove the need for a doctor to produce a fit note in ink. The change becomes live from the 6th April 2022.
The Department For Communities have explained the change here.
The legislation for the change can be found here or on our dedicated legislation pages on this website. (click the legislation button at the top of this page)
549 Disability Discrimination (Guidance on Code of Practice) (Appointed day) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996
This Order stipulates 2nd December 1996 as the date on which this guidance comes into force and addresses the elimination of discrimination in the field of employment against disabled persons or persons who have had a disability.
421 The Disability Discrimination (Meaning of Disability) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
These Regulations provide for the established definition of a disability for the purposes of the 1995 Act, that is, a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
No 302 The Labour Relations Agency Arbitration Scheme (Jurisdiction) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
This Order utilises the power vested in the Department for Employment and Learning to permit the Labour Relations Agency to prepare an arbitration scheme for dealing with disputes which are or could become the subject of industrial tribunal proceedings.
No 159 The Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
These Regulations make a variety of amendments to our anti-discrimination legislation as it pertains to gender and pregnancy only. As a result there is no longer a requirement for a comparator who is not pregnant when a woman is pursuing a case of discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity leave.
Labour Relations Agency, Fermanagh Enterprise Ltd and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to Offer Free ‘Essentials of Employment Legislation’ Event
The Labour Relations Agency, Fermanagh Enterprise Limited and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have joined forces to offer a free event on the Essentials of Employment Legislation on Tuesday 8 October.
No 320 The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012
This Order comes into on 10/9/12 and essentially amends the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2009 (“the 2009 Order”) by revoking the provisions in the 2009 Order which provided that certain people should not be treated as vulnerable adults or as providing regulated activity to children or to vulnerable adults, in light of the changes to the definitions of vulnerable adult, regulated activity relating to children and regulated activity relating to vulnerable adults in Schedule 7 to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (“the 2012 Act”).
418 Sex Discrimination (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
The Regulations relate to the remedies that can be granted for cases of sex discrimination and specifically to remedies for indirect discrimination even where the respondent did not intend to treat the claimant unfavourably on sex or marital status grounds.
Economy Minister welcomes new legislation to protect Northern Ireland workers
Economy Minister Diane Dodds has welcomed new employment legislation which will benefit workers across Northern Ireland.
The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Protection from Detriment in Health and Safety Cases) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 extends protections against detriment in health and safety cases to workers in relation to any action they may take to protect themselves or others where they reasonably believe there is serious and imminent danger in their place of work.
It will come into operation on 31 May 2021. At present, these protections cover only employees.
The Order must be approved by a resolution of the Assembly within six months of coming into operation. It must therefore be confirmed on or before 31 November 2021.
The move has its origins in a Judicial Review brought by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain against the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain.
A High Court Judgment was published in November which directed that the Health and Safety Framework Directive and the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Directive should apply to a wider group of workers, not just employees.
Minister Dodds said: “This Order is about more than about responding appropriately to the decision of a High Court ruling. It will also give clarity to business and individuals.
“As businesses emerge from lockdown, everyone will need to be protected during the transition back to the workplace.
“This Order will allow some of our most vulnerable workers the legal protection they need to act to ensure their own safety and the safety of others without fear of suffering detriment for doing the right thing. This includes protecting them against being denied promotion or training opportunities.”
231 Sex Discrimination Code of Practice (Recruitment and Selection) (Appointed day) Order (Northern Ireland) 1998
The Code of Practice for removing sex bias from recruitment and selection comes into effect on 3rd August 1998 and the Code can be admitted in evidence to County Court or Industrial Tribunal if deemed relevant to any question in proceedings.