Employment

Northern Ireland's unemployment rate remains low in comparison to the rest of the UK but the end of furlough in September will be the "big test", employment law expert Andrew Lightburn has said. Mr Lightburn, director at the Belfast office of DWF, welcomed the latest NISRA figures showing that North

Proposals to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) in Northern Ireland have been put to a public consultation. The AWB is responsible for setting of minimum rates of pay and certain terms and conditions for agricultural workers in the agriculture and horticulture sectors.

Major reforms may be required before the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) can resume hearing cases in the aftermath of a landmark Supreme Court ruling, a leading employment lawyer has warned. Speaking to Irish Legal News this morning, Dublin solicitor Richard Grogan said it could take months bef

A new chairperson and four new members have been appointed to the board of the Labour Relations Agency (LRA). Gordon Milligan, deputy chief executive of Translink, has been appointed to serve as chair of the board for a three-year term.

Employment solicitor Leanne McKeown of Rosemary Connolly Employment & Equality Solicitors examines the lessons of a ruling against a law firm accused of age and disability discrimination. In a stark reminder to respondents and their legal advisers on the importance of deadlines, the Employment T

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) held 2,000 fewer adjudication hearings last year than it otherwise would have due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to its annual report for 2020, the WRC held 1,899 adjudication hearings last year, 1,609 of which were face-to-face and 290 which were virtua

People working with children or vulnerable adults could have to undergo re-vetting every three years under a proposed strengthening of the Garda vetting system. Justice Minister Helen McEntee today announced the establishment of an interdepartmental group to review Garda vetting arrangements and leg

Health and safety protections will be extended to gig economy and precarious workers in Northern Ireland next month following a landmark court ruling in London last year. The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (Protection from Detriment in Health and Safety Cases) (Amendment) Order (Nor

The Supreme Court has confirmed the final orders in the recent landmark decision regarding the constitutionality of the Workplace Relations Commission procedures. The court determined that the applicant was entitled to the full costs in both the Supreme Court and High Court. In making the decision,

Emergency legislation allowing for hearings of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to take place in public in light of a landmark Supreme Court ruling will be brought to the Oireachtas within weeks. Judges last week upheld the constitutional validity of the WRC in the Zalewski case, but declare

Protections against religious discrimination in employment would be extended to school teachers under a proposed private member's bill. Chris Lyttle, Alliance MLA for Belfast East, has launched a consultation on a proposed bill to include teachers under the Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1

The Supreme Court has upheld the constitutional validity of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in a significant ruling relating to the administration of justice in the State. It was held that the WRC process was not unconstitutional due to the lack of an appeal to the courts. Although the cour

A landmark Supreme Court ruling on the operation of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) could lead to cases being dealt with more quickly, a leading employment lawyer has said. The court yesterday rejected, by a 4-3 majority, a legal challenge arguing that the 2015 legislation underpinning the

The Labour Court has been asked to consider the establishment of a joint labour committee (JLC) in the childcare sector. JLCs under the Industrial Relations Acts provide a wage-setting mechanism that determines terms and conditions of employment, as well as setting minimum rates of pay for workers i

Employees in Ireland now have the "right to disconnect" under a new code of practice drawn up by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). Tánaiste and Employment Minister Leo Varadkar today announced the bringing into effect of the new code of practice as well as the beginning of a consultat