The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has warned that a proposed workers' rights bill, as currently framed, "risks causing serious damage" to the agri-food sector and family farms.
The UFU has written to Northern Ireland's Minister for the Economy, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald, following a consultation on the proposed ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill, to outline concerns about the practical impact of the proposals on farm businesses and the wider supply chain.
The ‘Good Jobs’ bill proposes significant changes to Northern Ireland employment law. It is still in the development stage.
When introducing the proposals in the Northern Ireland Assembly last year, the minister said: "Zero hours contracts, which provide workers with no guaranteed hours, do not provide a good basis for a stable income.
"They should only be used for work that is genuinely casual or seasonal.
"Under my bill, people on a zero hours contract will have the right to move to a banded hours contract that reflects their average working hours."
Dr. Archibald added: "Workers on a zero hours contract will also have the right to reasonable notice of shifts, and the right to compensation if shifts are cancelled or curtailed at short notice."
In its letter to Dr. Archibald, UFU said it highlighted that agriculture “operates under unique conditions, with farm businesses heavily reliant on flexibility to respond to seasonal labour demands, weather and animal welfare requirements”.
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