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New employer-focused ‘Guide to Childcare’ supports employees and boosts economy
As labour shortages and staff retention continues to impact the economy, the issues associated with accessing or affording appropriate childcare - viewed by many parents as one of the main barriers to employment – have been addressed in a new Guide for Employers.
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.
Public Interest Disclosure (Northern Ireland) Order 1998
The Public Interest Disclosure (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 provides protection for an individual who makes a qualifying disclosure (also referred to as whistle blowing) in good faith to their employer or other third party against dismissal or detriment for making the disclosure.
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. 110 Maternity and Parental leave etc. (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
These Regulations amend the 1999 Regulations of the same name and essentially revoke the previous restriction which meant that parental leave uses only exercisable in relation to children born or placed for adoption on or after 15th December 1999.
No 99 The Statutory Shared Parental Pay (Adoptions from Overseas) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
These Regulations are part of a group of Statutory Rules which, taken collectively, have the purpose of enabling eligible working parents to share leave and pay entitlement in respect of children due to be born, or placed for adoption, on or after 5th April 2015.
No. 62 The Statutory Maternity Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
These Regulations amend the 1987 Regulations to provide for continuity of employment in respect of a dismissal where a woman commences a statutory dispute resolution procedure and as a consequence of the procedure is reinstated or re-engaged by her employer (on or after 6/4/05).
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.
No 149 The Maternity Allowance (Curtailment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
These Regulations enable a woman to end her Maternity Allowance early so that an eligible person (a spouse, civil partner, partner or the child’s father) can take the remaining number of untaken weeks of Maternity Allowance as shared parental pay and/or shared parental leave.
419 The Disability Discrimination (Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
These Regulations provide for circumstances whereupon treatment of a disabled employee or failure to make a reasonable adjustment is justified: where pay is linked to performance, where there are uniform rates of contribution to an occupational pension scheme regardless of benefits received, where building works complied with (and continue to comply with) the building regulations in relations to disabled access and facilities.