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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.”
No.134 The Smoke-Free (Signs) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007
These Regulations contain requirements which relate to the display of no-smoking signs in smoke-free premises and vehicles.
No. 120 Labour Relations Agency Arbitration Scheme Order (Northern Ireland) 2002
This Order details the provisions of the Unfair Dismissal Arbitration Scheme (UDAS) as facilitated by the Labour Relations Agency.
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021
These Regulations are made in response to the serious and imminent threat to public health which is posed by the incidence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Northern Ireland. Effective from 24/5/21, Regulation 4 introduces an exemption for gatherings in respect of lawful industrial action.
The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023
These Regulations revoke and re-enact the provisions of the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay (Consequential Amendments to Subordinate Legislation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023. These Regulations make amendments to secondary legislation which make provision for entitlements to bereavement leave and pay for parents following the death of a child. More here:
78 Employer’s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Exemption Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998
These Regulations revoke and re-enact (with some changes) the 1975 Regulations of the same name, along with associated Regulations.
386 Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998
The Regulations implement a European Directive relevant to working time which cover an array of matters including the following: maximum average weekly working time, average normal hours of night workers, health assessments for night workers, rest breaks, records, weekly rest, paid annual leave, exemptions, right to take a claim to Industrial Tribunals and so on.
The Parental Bereavement Leave (No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023
The Regulations revoke and re-enact the provisions of the Parental Bereavement Leave Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023. These Regulations provide for a statutory entitlement for bereaved parents who are employees to take up to two weeks’ leave from their job called parental bereavement leave in the 56 weeks following the death of a child.
No 79 (C.7) The Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (Commencement No 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2018
This legislation becomes operational from 29/3/18 and makes changes regarding the provisions on the indexation of certain employment rights awards.
The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 No. 89
The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020
These Regulations amend the Schedule to the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982 (“the 1982 Regulations”). Regulation 2 of the 1982 Regulations provides that a person who is self-isolating in accordance with the Schedule is deemed to be incapable of work.