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The Code of Practice (Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces) Order 2026

S.I. 2026/1103 · Made 19 October 2026

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

TRADE UNIONS

Made at 11.48 a.m. on 19th October 2026

Laid before Parliament at 3.00 p.m. on 19th October 2026

Coming into force 30th October 2026

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 204(3) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992f1 (“the 1992 Act”).

Under section 203(1)(a) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State may issue Codes of Practice containing such practical guidance as the Secretary of State thinks fit for the purpose of promoting the improvement of industrial relations.

Under section 203(1)(a) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State proposed to issue a Code of Practice on the Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces (“the Code of Practice on the Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces”).

Under section 204(1) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State, after consultation with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, prepared and published a draft of the Code of Practice on the Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces.

Under section 204(1) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State considered representations made to the Secretary of State about the draft of the Code of Practice on the Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces and modified the draft accordingly.

Under section 204(2) of the 1992 Act, the Secretary of State laid the draft of the Code of Practice on the Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces with the title “Code of Practice: Right of trade unions to access workplaces”, before both Houses of Parliament, the draft was approved by resolution of each House of Parliament and the Secretary of State is issuing the Code of Practice on the Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces in the form of that draft.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1992 c. 52.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation
  2. 2Appointed day for the Code of Practice
  3. Signature
  4. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Code of Practice (Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces) Order 2026.

(2)

This Order comes into force on 30th October 2026.

(3)

This Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland.

(4)

In this Order—

  • “the 1992 Act” means the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992f1;

  • “the Code of Practice” means the Code of Practice on the Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplacesf2 issued by the Secretary of State under section 203(1)(a) and 204(2) of the 1992 Act which was laid in draft before both Houses of Parliament on 6th July 2026 and approved by a resolution of the House of Commons on 9th September 2026 and approved by a resolution of the House of Lords on 14th October 2026.

2Appointed day for the Code of Practice

The Code of Practice comes into effect on 30th October 2026.

Signature

Kate Dearden

Minister of State

Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade

at 11.48 a.m. on 19th October 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order appoints 30th October 2026 as the day on which the Code of Practice issued by the Secretary of State under sections 203(1)(a) and 204(2) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52) on the Right of Trade Unions to Access Workplaces (“the Code of Practice”) comes into effect.

The Code of Practice provides practical guidance to individuals, trade unions, employers, businesses and other organisations, to support the understanding and delivery of the right of trade unions to access workplaces and communicate with workers. It is available at www.gov.uk. Printed copies can be obtained from the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Old Admiralty Building, Admiralty Place, London, SW1A 2DY.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this Order or the Code of Practice as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. A de minimis assessment has been produced in relation to The Trade Unions (Right to Access Workplaces) Regulations 2026 and The Trade Unions (Right to Access Workplaces) (Required Information) Regulations 2026 which is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4b9af3d200ca05e289e5e7/trade-union-statutory-access-to-workplaces-final-impact-assessment.pdf. Printed copies can be obtained from the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Old Admiralty Building, Admiralty Place, London, SW1A 2DY.