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Who is an employee?
There are differences between ‘employees’, ‘workers’ and ‘contractors’. These differences in status can affect rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
Who we are
The Labour Relations Agency (the Agency) was established in 1976 with responsibility for promoting the improvement of employment relations in Northern Ireland. It is independent and publicly funded.
Annual holidays
Most workers - whether part-time or full-time - are legally entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid annual leave. Employers can set the times of the year that leave needs to be taken and workers must give the employer notice when they want to take leave.
Events
Our events ensure that you are up to date with the changes in employment relations in Northern Ireland. There is no charge for attending any of the Agency's seminars, briefings or workshops.
Statistics Hub
The Labour Relations Agency produces a wide range of statistics in the course of its service delivery. We believe that a lot of the information we hold may be of interest to a range of individuals, including researchers and students, and groups including trade unions and employer organisations.
So when releasing statistics we choose those which we think are of wide interest.
Holidays and Leave
Employees and workers are entitled to various types of leave depending on their circumstances and the length of time they have been employed.
Labour Relations Agency Annual Public Board Meeting
Thurs 24 Oct 2019, 11.30am - 1pm, Malone House, Belfast, free parking. Lunch provided.
Annual lecture: Early Conciliation - a new service required by Employment Act (NI) 2016 from January 2020.
Resources
We provide a range of resources to help you navigate employment relations in Northern Ireland.
Please note that on 6 December 2022 we will have moved our Head Office to new premises at James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue, the Gasworks, Belfast. However, some of our guides and resources may still have our old, Gordon Street address on them. We are systematically working our way through to update them with the new address. Phone numbers (03300 555 300 and 03300 552 220) and email addresses remain the same.
Trade unions
The Industrial Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 defines a trade union as “an organisation (whether permanent or temporary) which … consists wholly or mainly of workers of one or more descriptions and is an organisation whose principal purposes include the regulation of relations between workers … and employers or employers’ associations.
Vision
It is our vision to be widely recognised as Northern Ireland’s leading authority in promoting productive working relationships for the benefit of individuals and organisations and to support the creation of a thriving and inclusive economy.