AQW 26262/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/04/2025
Answered On Date: 12/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy, in relation to the Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill way forward, how her Department is seeking to address the concerns of small and micro businesses in relation to the implementation of any changes.

Answer:

In addition to individual Regulatory Impact Assessments on the proposed updates to our employment law framework, my Department carried out a Small and Micro Business Impact Assessment. These impact assessments, which formed part of my Department’s consultation, will be assessed and reviewed as we continue to develop further our policies and legislation. While workers are generally entitled to the same framework of employment rights regardless of employer size, my proposals contain some mitigations for smaller businesses. For example, businesses with less than £45,000 in employer national insurance contributions are allowed to claim 108.5% of any statutory paid leave entitlement such as neo-natal care leave and pay, rather than the rate of 92% which applies to larger employers. This is in recognition of the additional administrative overhead for businesses of that size. While my proposals aim to expand the number of workers who can be represented by a formally recognised trade union, I have set the statutory recognition threshold at ten, which excludes micro businesses. In addition, my Department, in conjunction with the Labour Relations Agency, will consider what training and support could be provided to businesses during this transition period.