CIPD consultation response: Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill NI

The Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill consultation is one of the largest consultations the CIPD has ever responded to. With over 190 questions spanning many areas of devolved employment legislation, its proposals would have a considerable impact on the people profession in Northern Ireland. 

The consultation has three core aims. First, it seeks to address many areas of law where Northern Ireland was left behind due to the political stalemates in recent years. Second, it aimed to anticipate what the new UK Government would propose in its own bill. And third, it tries to gauge opinion on more significant changes to how our labour market should be structured. The questions were grouped around four key themes that are aligned to the CIPD’s definition of good work that has also been adopted by the NI Department for the Economy.

There are many elements of the consultation that we support, although there are areas where we would urge caution. In addition, the UK Government's Make Work Pay proposals have since been introduced and any Bill introduced by the NI Executive will need to be cognisant of the proposals covering GB.