PCS calls on the NI Executive to move forward with the Good Jobs Bill

PCS has called on the Northern Ireland Executive to move forward with the Good Jobs Bill, the landmark employment law package which would bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK.

Employment law is entirely devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly. Whilst some employment rights have traditionally broadly mirrored provisions in Great Britain, there are key exceptions, where NI workers had better rights than GB.

With the passing of the Equality Act 2010 and the Employment Rights Act 2025 in GB, the divergence in employment law and gaps in NI workers protections has significantly increased.

PCS and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have been campaigning for years to fix these gaps and secure improved employment rights for all workers in Northern Ireland. 

The proposed Good Jobs Bill, which began public consultation almost two years ago, is a significant and comprehensive piece of legislation that would improve the lives off NI workers.

Executive Bills are agreed within the Executive at Stormont, then introduced the NI Assembly in the first stage, is debated at the second stage, then goes through line-by-line scrutiny at the committee stage. This is followed by stage four with further debate, stage five further and final debate on the full bill and amendments with Royal Assent at stage 6 when the bill is enacted. 

Despite the bill having widespread cross-community support, at the power-sharing Executive meeting on Thursday 28 May, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) blocked the bill, preventing it from going to the floor of the NI Assembly as an agreed Executive Bill, for debate.

Protracted delays could prevent the Bill being passed in this mandate, before the NI Assembly elections next year.

Assistant General Secretary of Irish Congress Gerry Murphy said: “This bill represents a real opportunity to set our economy on a new path; one built around quality jobs and genuine prosperity. Preventing this bill doesn't just shelve legislation, it closes down a debate this society needs to have. This is a backward and misguided step.”

Widespread public support

A survey by LucidTalk earlier this year confirms that the public overwhelmingly support the key aspects of the Good Jobs Bill, regardless of political affiliation. When asked whether they supported trade union access in the workplace, voters responded positively across all main parties:

  • 60% – Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
  • 61% – Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
  • 92% – Alliance Party
  • 97% – Sinn Féin
  • 99% – SDLP

PCS Irish Regional Secretary Gayle Matthews said: “We ask all members to get involved in our workers’ rights campaign, to help us lobby politicians and to keep the pressure on the Executive to get this bill moving and passed. 

Workers' rights must not become a political football. Workers in Northern Ireland deserve parity of rights to workers in Great Britain."

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