To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail (i) any engagement he has had with the UK Government in relation to the abolition of the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal as part of the proposed employment rights Bill; and (ii) whether he is minded to reduce or remove the qualifying period within Northern Ireland.

I will be scheduling a meeting with my Ministerial counterpart in the Department of Business and Trade to discuss all aspects of the British Government’s Employment Rights Bill. My officials regularly engage with their British counterparts on all matters relating to employment law.

The qualifying period for protection against unfair dismissal in the North of Ireland is one year, by virtue of the Unfair Dismissal and Statement of Reasons for Dismissal (Variation of Qualifying Period) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999, not two years as in Britain. Whilst the British Government’s Employment Rights Bill seeks to remove the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal, it also plans to consult on introducing a statutory nine month probation period for workers. My position will be set out as I take forward the Employment Rights Bill.