Explanatory note

This Order brings into operation on 24th April 2000, Article 18 of, and Schedule 5 to, the Employment Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1999. These provisions amend the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (“the 1996 Order”) to provide that an employee is regarded as unfairly dismissed for the purposes of Part XI of that Order if dismissed, in certain circumstances, because he or she took part in official industrial action. The provisions also make consequential amendments to Article 137 of the 1996 Order (unfair selection for redundancy). Article 3 of the Order provides that the changes apply only to the dismissal of employees who start to take industrial action beginning on or after 24th April 2000.