The Work and Families Bill, which will introduce new rights for working parents that will allow leave and pay entitlement to be shared following the birth or adoption of a child, has today passed its Final Stage debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The Bill, which also includes a wide extension of the right to request flexible working, will create a new system of shared parental leave and pay which will allow eligible working families to have more choice about how they balance their work and caring commitments. Parents can choose to be at home together or to work at different times and share the care of their child. The right to request flexible working, currently available to many parents and carers, will be extended to all employees who have worked for their employer for 26 weeks or more.
Speaking after the debate, Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Stephen Farry said: “I am delighted that the Work and Families Bill has reached its Final Stage. The Bill is central in underpinning my policy to recognise and respond to changing expectations around work and family life. I believe that the implementation of the Bill will have long term benefits for all parents, irrespective of gender.
“The Bill will not in any way compromise the rights of mothers to take the full entitlement that is currently provided for in the current arrangements. We know that women are already performing better than men in many different aspects and levels of the education and training system. However, there are issues about representation of women within some key sectors of the economy, most notably those that are set to grow most rapidly over the coming years.
“Furthermore, there are factors regarding retention and progression of women in the workplace. I believe that the measures contained in this Bill will make an important contribution to the work that is ongoing to promote gender equality within the workplace and wider society.
“In turn this will have long term benefits for employers as the best employees become better able to achieve their full potential by remaining attached to the workplace. Achieving a balance between employee and employer needs in a way that promotes economic wellbeing is central to what my Department is seeking to achieve through the current review of employment law.
“We cannot expect to successfully operate in the global marketplace if we do not make the most of the local marketplace of talent. I am satisfied that this Bill meets that objective.”
Details of the changes to be implemented are set out in the Department’s response to public consultation on these issues, published on 14 April 2014, which can be downloaded from:
www.delni.gov.uk/working-parents-rights
Subject to the Bill receiving Royal Assent, regulations will allow for the new rights to be applied from April 2015.
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