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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.”
6 Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000
This Order increases, as from 5/3/00, the limits applying to certain awards of industrial tribunals, and other amounts payable under employment legislation, as specified in the Schedule to the Order. (Increases reflect increases in Retail Price Index from Sept’97-Sept’99).
No 60 The Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
These Regulations revoke and re-enact the 2009 Regulations and come into effect from 1/4/10.
No 266 The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
These Regulations amend the Working Time Regulations by continuing to phase in the reduction in the maximum number of hours (subject to individual opt out) that doctors in training are required to work.
EARLY CONCILIATION COMES TO NORTHERN IRELAND 27 JANUARY 2020
Following a change in employment law, the Labour Relations Agency will provide a new service to employees, employers, and their representatives.
459 The Employment Protection (Recoupment of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
These Regulations replace the Industrial Relations (Recoupment of Unemployment Benefit and Supplementary Benefit) Regulations (NI) 1977 and come into effect as of 7th October 1996 and provide for recovery by the DHSS from an employer of sums on account of Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support out of a prescribed part of an amount awarded by an Industrial Tribunal in certain proceedings listed in the Schedule.
391 Disability Discrimination (Exemption for Small Employers) Order (Northern Ireland) 1998
This Order lowers the small employer exemption threshold (available under Section 7 (1)) from 20 employees to 15 employees.
No 95 The Maternity and Adoption Leave (Curtailment of Statutory Rights to Leave) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
These Regulations come into operation on 15/3/15 and enable an expectant mother or a mother on maternity leave, or an adopter or a prospective adopter to give notice to end her/his relevant entitlement on a specific future date.
No 87 The Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
The purpose of these Regulations is to amend the Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (“the 2002 Regulations”) to take account of the policy changes being brought forward in association with the Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.