14/04/2014

New Parental Leave Plans Launched

Plans have been announced to introduce new rights that will enable leave and pay entitlement to be shared between couples following the birth or adoption of a child.

Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry announced the plans today (14 April).

"Northern Ireland is the only region of the UK where employment law is devolved," he said. "We therefore have the opportunity to develop an employment law system that works in the interests of people and business, helps our economy to grow, attracts investment, encourages companies to recruit new staff and at the same time provides sufficient protection for the rights of employees.

"We can create a local modern, efficient and integrated employment relations system where economic competitiveness and workers' rights are balanced."

The new system will allow eligible working families to choose to be at home together or to work at different times. The plans also include a wide extension of the right to request flexible working.

"I am committed to striking the right balance between the needs of employees and those of businesses," Dr Farry said. "I strongly believe that we can all benefit from a more flexible workforce that is better able to retain talented people who need to balance commitments at home and at work.

"The policy proposals that I am publishing today are an important step to embedding greater flexibility while at the same time allowing businesses to have open discussions with their employees and to plan ahead."

(IT/JP)

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