Time is running out for the implementation of employment law reforms without which Northern Ireland will be left out of step with the rest of the UK, a law firm has warned.
The Belfast office of Lewis Silkin has raised concerns that the ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill has “stalled” and may not pass in the remaining 14 months of the Assembly mandate.
Managing associate Leeanne Armstrong said: “We recognise that 14 months is a challenging timeframe in which to complete the necessary work to ensure the passage of the ‘Good Jobs’ bill to become law and bring about these needed reforms, but with where the bill is in the process now, there is a real risk that the bill may not pass before the end of the current mandate.
“This means that the legislative process would need to start again from the beginning under a new mandate, with no guarantee that the same policy priorities currently underpinning the bill would be maintained.
“This understandably leaves much uncertainty for employers in Northern Ireland in terms of planning and implementing any changes into their workforce policies, processes and budgets.”
Stakeholders had expected to receive the draft bill shortly after Easter last year – but officials last month told the Assembly’s economy committee that the bill is still being drafted.
It is now expected to go to the Executive for approval in the coming weeks, with the hope that it will reach the economy committee for scrutiny by May.
Ms Armstrong said: “It’s really...
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