To ask the Minister for the Economy for an update on the Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill.

Dr Archibald

Although the loss of two years in the mandate has required us to work to an exceptionally tight timetable, the drafting of the employment rights Bill is now being finalised. The Bill is an ambitious and wide-ranging package of legislative reforms, and I recently secured the Executive’s endorsement of its policy content. When drafting is complete, I will bring the final Bill to the Executive for agreement. I trust that my Executive colleagues will join me in introducing the Bill, which will strengthen employment law and benefit workers and employers.

Dr Archibald

I thank the Member for his question. He confused me slightly, because he is usually on the other side of the Chamber. I reassure the Member that work is progressing on the drafting of the Bill. I hope to have it with me in a short number of weeks so that we can refer it to the Executive for agreement. I intend to introduce the Bill to the Assembly before summer recess so that the Committee has it to scrutinise it over the summer months and into the autumn and ensure that we are able to pass it into law before the end of the mandate. The Bill includes many important protections. Some of them catch up with legislative changes that have taken place in Britain while the Assembly was not sitting, but there are important progressive changes that will make a real difference to the lives of ordinary workers here. I look forward to the Assembly's support in getting the Bill through.

Mr Buckley

The Minister must know full well the huge concern that there is among many businesses about the potential negative impact on jobs that that ham-fisted legislation may cause. Can the Minister name one major business that supports the so-called 'good jobs' Bill? Will the Bill force the likes of Gerry Adams's bodyguard to pay his staff at Stix & Stones properly?

Dr Archibald

I thank the Member for his continued engagement on the 'good jobs' Bill, because it is important that we get it right. That is why I have had such extensive engagement with representatives of workers and employers' organisations and with individual businesses. My officials have engaged consistently over the past number of months to ensure that what we introduce meets the requirements of workers and businesses. Far from being ham-fisted legislation, it is a set of progressive measures that will enhance the lives of workers and support good employers by enabling them not to be undercut by those who implement poor practices. It is incumbent on us all to ensure that the Bill progresses at pace and passes into law before the end of the mandate.

Mr O'Toole

Minister, we strongly support employment rights legislation and want to see it introduced. The problem is that it has not been introduced. Workers deserve to see it debated in the Assembly and to see it passed. With respect, however, your party has gone out with leaflets across the North saying that there is a 'good jobs' Bill: none of us in the Chamber have seen it. When will it be introduced? When Conor Murphy launched the consultation, he said that we had only two and a half years of the mandate left. That was nearly two years ago. Minister —

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker

Matthew.

Mr O'Toole

— please, when will the law be published?

Madam Principal Deputy Speaker

OK. Thank you.

Dr Archibald

I similarly appreciate the support of the Member and his party for this important legislation. He will appreciate that the mandate has been shortened and that it takes time to craft legislation as comprehensive as the Bill. It is near completion, and we hope to have a full draft of the Bill in a few weeks so that we can get it to the Executive and, as I indicated, introduce it before the summer recess and pass it before the end of the mandate.

Ms D Armstrong

Minister, I have engaged with the agri-food sector, particularly the meat industry in Dungannon. I am told that there is limited knowledge of the 'good jobs' Bill and its implications. What engagement have you had with that sector?

Dr Archibald

As I indicated, we have had considerable engagement with all sectors. If the Member wants to bring a business or collection of businesses to our attention, my officials will be more than happy to ensure that there is engagement with them. It is important that people understand the measures proposed in the Bill rather than some version of them that is not entirely accurate. I am keen to continue to engage and to ensure that people are equipped with information and are able to be part of the process. Once the Bill has been introduced and passes to Committee Stage, the Committee will have the opportunity to engage widely with representatives of workers and employers.

Mrs Dillon

Minister, I heard a female entrepreneur and leader in the world of business say this week that the most important thing to her business was the contentment and happiness of her staff. Given that the 'good jobs' Bill is about ensuring that all staff are content in their work, will you outline how the Bill will benefit women in the workplace?

Dr Archibald

I thank the Member for that feedback. Many of our employers want to ensure that their workers are supported, which is why there is support for the measures. My Bill will provide many benefits for women by enhancing rights that support work-life balance. The right to request flexible working will become an employment right on day 1 rather than after 26 weeks, as happens at present. Employees will be able to make two statutory requests for flexible working within a 12-month period instead of only one. We will introduce carer's leave, which will support the many women who are in caregiving roles for relatives. Eligible parents will benefit from improved neonatal care leave and pay, ensuring that, when a parent has a newborn who requires extended medical attention, they are better able to focus on their child and their own needs. We will make revisions to paternity leave that will afford families greater flexibility. We will extend redundancy protections for pregnant employees and those returning from family leave, which will further strengthen workforce participation by women. Women will benefit from the full range of enhanced rights that my Bill will introduce, which include the right to move from a zero-hours contract to a banded-hours contract and enhanced trade union rights. It is often women who are in zero- or low-hours roles, so they will very much benefit from those provisions. Together, the provisions are designed to foster a more inclusive, supportive and adaptable workplace culture in which women are empowered to balance their professional and personal responsibilities with confidence.