Good jobs bill: Most firms exempt from new trade union rights

Stormont's economy minister has moved to exempt most businesses from controversial new trade union rights. The move by Caomihe Archibald is an attempt to reach political agreement on her Good Jobs Bill, a significant overhaul of employment law. Businesses with fewer than 10 staff will be exempt from proposed new arrangements for trade union access to workplaces. Official data suggests that almost 90% of businesses in Northern Ireland employ fewer than 10 people. However, because most people are employed by large organisations, including the public sector, it means that around 80% of workers will still be covered by the changes. The Good Jobs Bill was first announced almost two years ago. It was discussed by the Stormont executive on Thursday but no agreement was reached after DUP ministers said they needed more time to assess it. Some of the proposed changes have been heavily criticised by business groups. The plans for trade union access have faced the most intense opposition. Currently, unions generally only have a right to enter a workplace if they are already recognised by the employer. The bill would give unions a "right to request" access to meet with workers for recruitment

May 29, 2026 → May 29, 2026