Rest break rights to feature in new employment law

The Employment Amendment Bill is set to go before the legislative branches by the end of the year

New rights to take rest breaks are set to feature in new employment laws currently being progressed, the government has confirmed.

The Employment Amendment Bill is currently being drafted by the Department for Enterprise (DfE), and is set to go before the legislative branches by the end of the year.

The move is part of wider work to overhaul current laws, with changes to family leave rights and whistleblowing procedures set to be introduced in April 2025.

The DfE said the introduction of a statutory right to a rest break for all workers as well as a rest period between working shifts, are set to be incorporated in the bill.

It follows seven consultations launched last year into employment laws which have formed the basis of the work.

Of those who took part in a consultation on extending statutory rest breaks to all workers, 75% said they were in favour.

The department said responses in favour of the proposals commented on the affect improving those rights would have on a worker's health and wellbeing, while those against raised concerns about business competitiveness and government involvement in employment matters.

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The introduction of neo-natal care and carers leave is also set to be included in the employment amendment bill, after reviewing similar provisions in comparable jurisdictions.

The DfE said the consultation responses showed a "strong consensus" for the introduction of both neo-natal care leave and carers' leave but opinions differed on the implementation of these changes in particular on the funding support required.

But proposals to increase maternity redundancy protection would not be taken forward but the issue would continue to be monitored, it said.

The DfE said while it would consider statutory annual leave provisions and assess the impact of changes across business sectors, that work would not be immediate.

Of the 223 responses to the consultation on that matter, which saw two come from lobby groups, 52% said they were in favour of increasing annual leave provision, with 27% against.