Following a period of legislative proposals and consultations, 2026 looks set to be a significant year for employment law reform in Northern Ireland.
Following a period of legislative proposals and consultations, 2026 looks set to be a significant year for employment law reform in Northern Ireland. Several flagship proposals are expected to solidify into law, including the Department for the Economy's 'Good Jobs' bill, alongside changes to domestic abuse leave, parental bereavement leave, and statutory sick pay. Employers should also monitor key developments regarding post Brexit Windsor Framework protections and the ongoing clarification of the legal definition of "sex."
What follows is our guide to the key themes and expected developments across 2026 and beyond.
Following consultation on a proposed overhaul to NI employment law last year, the Department for the Economy published its response in its "Way Forward," document, which puts a draft Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill on track for publication in 2026, with enactment targeted before the end of the current Assembly mandate in 2027.
Assuming the draft bill is passed, not everything will arrive at once, with some changes implemented by secondary legislation and/or Codes of Practice earlier than the larger structural reforms. The Department has flagged that changes to payslips, and new Trade Union recognition rights are earmarked within this package for...
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