The Department for the Economy has defended new employment law legislation following a barrage of criticism from businesses.
A coalition of 20 business groups said not enough time was available to scrutinise the legislation, which Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald wishes to enact by the end of the present Assembly mandate next year.
In a letter to the Minister, the groups said they believed the time available is not enough for “due and proper scrutiny of some of the most significant proposed changes to employment law in Northern Ireland in decades, which currently incorporates at least 50 policy measures”.
But trade unions hit back, calling it “cynical” and “an attempt to block positive change that people understand and want”.
A spokesperson for the Department for the Economy defended the proposed legislation, which will include a ban on zero-hours contracts and earlier protection for employees against unfair dismissal.
And they referred to a hiatus in the Assembly mandate from 2022 to 2024, following a row over the NI Protocol.
The spokesperson said: “This is an important piece of legislation, which, among other things, will make provision for leave for carers and parents with babies born prematurely.
“It is regrettable that we have lost two years of the mandate, which has made legislative timeframes more challenging.
“Careful consideration of the detail of the Bill will therefore be important.
“The text of the Bill will be published soon, and it is crucial it...
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