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On 7 April 2026, the Fair Work Agency (FWA) became the UK’s single state enforcement body for core employment rights, established under GB’s Employment Rights Act 2025. The FWA is now up and running, and in this insight we explain what it does, the powers it holds, and what it means for employers in Northern Ireland.

The Fair Work Agency: What is it?

The FWA brings together functions previously handled by HMRC’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) team and other enforcement units. It has powers to investigate breaches, require payment of arrears, issue civil penalties and, in certain cases, take legal proceedings.

Parliament established the FWA through GB’s Employment Rights Act 2025 to strengthen state enforcement and eliminate duplication between existing bodies. As part of this, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) was absorbed into the FWA, creating a single, better-resourced agency capable of spotting patterns across sectors and stepping in earlier.

The agency went live on 7 April 2026 and is being built out in phases. Core areas such as NMW enforcement are active from the outset, with scope to expand into areas like Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and holiday pay over time.

We wrote in detail about the FWA agency and its application in GB here.

The FWA's enforcement powers in practice

The FWA has broad enforcement powers. It can attend business premises, demand employment records (including pay, hours and holiday entitlements), and take copies. Employers are...

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