The Belfast office of Lewis Silkin has raised concerns that the ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill has “stalled” and may not pass in the remaining 14 months of the Assembly mandate.

Managing associate Leeanne Armstrong said: “We recognise that 14 months is a challenging timeframe in which to complete the necessary work to ensure the passage of the ‘Good Jobs’ bill to become law and bring about these needed reforms, but with where the bill is in the process now, there is a real risk that the bill may not pass before the end of the current mandate.

“This means that the legislative process would need to start again from the beginning under a new mandate, with no guarantee that the same policy priorities currently underpinning the bill would be maintained.

“This understandably leaves much uncertainty for employers in Northern Ireland in terms of planning and implementing any changes into their workforce policies, processes and budgets.”

Stakeholders had expected to receive the draft bill shortly after Easter last year – but officials last month told the Assembly’s economy committee that the bill is still being drafted.

It is now expected to go to the Executive for approval in the coming weeks, with the hope that it will reach the economy committee for scrutiny by May.

Ms Armstrong said: “It’s really important that employers familiarise themselves with the proposed reforms given the wide-ranging changes that may affect workplace policies if this bill passes.

“We would also encourage engaging with the economy committee. The committee stage represents a significant opportunity for employer bodies and individual organisations to make their views known.

“Some of the changes proposed under the bill would have a significant impact on employers. Stakeholders with concerns or ideas about specific provisions and how these will work in practice for employers should prepare to engage with the economy committee and individual MLAs to help shape the legislation to suit your needs.”

She added: “We’d also suggest that employers keep an eye on developments in Great Britain as the delay of our own ‘Good Jobs’ bill has, in part, been a result of seeing where the Employment Rights Bill eventually landed and how this would play out for employers and employees.

“Now that the Employment Rights Act 2025 has passed, there remains scope for individual MLAs or the Department to bring forward amendments aligning Northern Ireland more closely with GB.”