DUP block on employment rights legislation is ‘destructive’, says McDonald

A DUP block on proposed legislation to reform employment law in Northern Ireland is a “destructive” move that is thwarting increased rights for working people, Mary Lou McDonald has said.

The Sinn Féin president made clear her party would “stand by” the provisions in the Bill amid a DUP call for proposals around trade union access to be siphoned off to separate legislation.

Last week, the DUP offered to sign off on many aspects of Sinn Féin’s flagship employment rights proposals if the party removed the trade union provisions.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said if Sinn Féin Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald was prepared to “split the Bill” and create two pieces of legislation – one on general employment rights and the other specifically on provisions related to trade unions – then his party would approve the former immediately while continuing to scrutinise and seek consensus on the latter.

He rejected Sinn Féin’s claim that the DUP’s refusal to green-light the Good Jobs Bill through the Executive and onto the floor of the Assembly was denying people key new rights, such as access to paid leave for parents whose babies require neonatal care.

A Bill tabled by an Executive minister can only begin its legislative passage through the Assembly once it is signed off by Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill and DUP deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

Ms Little-Pengelly is currently refusing to green light the Good Jobs Bill.

She has raised concerns about a provision of the current Bill that would allow trade unions the “right to request” access to workplaces to meet workers.

Ms Archibald has already moved to exempt businesses with fewer than 10 employees from this provision.

But the DUP has said it retains significant concerns over the trade union elements of the Bill, claiming some of the proposals lack detail.

Ms McDonald was scheduled to meet a representative of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on Monday to discuss the issue.

“We are very frustrated, very disappointed that this has now been blocked, is being actively blocked in the Executive by the DUP,” she told reporters at Stormont.

“I think that’s the most destructive position to take. I cannot, for the life of me, imagine why any political party would not welcome and advance measures that will enhance and help working people, irrespective of their political or their constitutional stripe.

“We want to be clear that we will stand by the provisions in this legislation, and we are going to do everything that we can within the political institutions and outside of them to ensure that this ground-breaking legislation becomes a reality, and that working people here in the north, and then by extension across the island, actually enjoy the additional protections that the legislation envisages.”