Debate contribution: Employment Rights Bill
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 16 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Employment Rights Bill
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5623916
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I completely agree that trade unions play a positive role in helping workers understand and exercise their rights. Where trade unions are present, they provide workers with access to information, advice and representation, which can make it easier to raise concerns and to seek improvements in the workplace. Trade unions also perform a recognised role in negotiating pay and conditions on behalf of their members and in providing a structured channel for dialogue between employers and employees. Evidence shows that effective worker voice and representation, including through trade unions, is associated with higher job quality, stronger workplace relationships and, in some contexts, improved organisational performance. Extending access to independent representation is particularly important in the parts of our economy where worker voice is currently limited, as it will help ensure that workers are aware of their rights and able to exercise them in practice.
144 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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