The Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (Commencement No. 4) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into operation certain provisions of the Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (“the Act”).

Article 2(a) commences the provision that provides the Department with the power to prescribe by regulations requirements, in addition to those already in statute, which parties may be required to meet as a condition of continuing to participate in particular Industrial Tribunal proceedings.

Article 2(b) commences the provision that provides the Department with the power to prescribe by regulations other requirements, in addition to those already in statute, which parties may be required to meet as a condition of continuing to participate in particular Fair Employment Tribunal proceedings.

Article 2(c) empowers the Department to make appropriate provision to prevent abuses associated with the use of zero hours contracts, non-contractual zero hours arrangements or worker’s contracts of a kind to be specified in regulations.

Article 2(d) requires the Department to make arrangements for providing careers guidance for such persons as it considers appropriate, and empowers the Department to make regulations which deal with the delivery of careers guidance.

Article 2(e) enables the Department to make regulations requiring arrangements to be made for providing apprenticeships and traineeships.

Article 2(f) commences the provision amending the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 so that the Department’s powers to amend certain legislative provisions are made subject to the draft affirmative procedure before the Assembly.

Article 2(g) and (h) gives effect to the repeal of relevant statutory provisions in Schedule 3 of the Act.