Explanatory note

This Order appoints 22nd July 2013 as the date on which the Code of Practice on Equal Pay which is being issued by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (“the Commission”) shall come into effect. The Code of Practice replaces the previous Code of Practice on Equal Pay which came into effect on 4th May 1999. The revisions to the Code of Practice, which are introduced to reflect best practice, were carried out by the Commission under Article 56A(8) of the Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (“the 1976 Order”). A draft of the Code of Practice was laid before the Assembly on 12th February 2013 in accordance Article 56A(6) of the 1976 Order.

Article 3 contains a saving provision, the effect of which is that the previous Code of Practice will continue to apply in the case of proceedings under the Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 commenced before 22nd July 2013.

Article 4 revokes the Sex Discrimination Code of Practice (Equal Pay) (Appointed Day) Order (Northern Ireland) 1999.

Copies of the new Code of Practice on Equal Pay may be obtained free of charge from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Equality House, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DP (Telephone 02890500600, Textphone 02890500589, e-mail: [email protected] or it can be downloaded from the Equality Commission’s website at www.equalityni.org