AQO 922/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 26/09/2024
Answered On Date: 07/10/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether he is considering amendments to the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 to align with the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023.

Answer:

The relevant provisions (sections 1-4) within the Worker Protection (Amendment of the Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 which reinforce the requirement for employers to tackle sexual harassment, will commence in England, Scotland and Wales on 26 October 2024.

Amendments to the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 would be necessary to ensure that the new requirements upon employers to tackle sexual harassment also apply in Northern Ireland. My officials are considering the way forward on this issue.