New employment law plans are 'half-baked' - Little-Pengelly

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has accused Sinn Féin of trying to "bully and bounce her" in to supporting the Good Jobs Bill which aims to overhaul employment laws.

Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, she said the proposed legislation was "half-baked" and had no support among the business community.

However, she did offer to support the bill if Sinn Féin Economy Minister Caomihe Archibald agreed to split the proposed legislation and remove the new trade union rights.

But that plan has been criticised by the unions who have accused the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of "turning their backs" on more than a million workers.

Meanwhile, Archibald said her Good Jobs Bill provided important rights for all workers and she wouldn't "be leaving anyone behind"

Under the proposed bill trade unions would have greater access to workers and employment settings.

Currently, unions generally only have a right to enter a workplace if they are already recognised by the employer.

The bill would give unions a "right to request" access to meet with workers for recruitment and representation.

Access would not be automatic, but employers would not be permitted to "unreasonably" withhold it.

But there has been no agreement around the Executive table in supporting the bill and Sinn Féin has accused the DUP of blocking the legislation which it claims would improve the working conditions of workers across Northern Ireland.

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