New employment legislation would hit agri-food sector hard, says UFU

summer countryside morning,Northern Ireland

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has written to the Minister for the Economy, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald MLA, following the consultation on the proposed ‘Good Jobs’ Employment Rights Bill, warning that the legislation, as currently framed, risks causing serious damage to the agri-food sector and family farms.

In the letter, the UFU outlined significant concerns about the practical impact of the proposals on farm businesses and the wider supply chain. The Union highlighted that agriculture operates under unique conditions, with farm businesses heavily reliant on flexibility to respond to seasonal labour demands, weather and animal welfare requirements.

The UFU raised particular concerns around proposals on zero and low hours contracts, including the introduction of banded hours arrangements. These measures risk locking farm businesses into fixed working patterns that do not reflect the seasonal nature of agriculture, limiting flexibility and potentially leaving farmers exposed to unsustainable labour costs.

UFU President William Irvine said, “There is a clear disconnect between what is being proposed and how farming businesses actually operate on the ground. Agriculture is not a standard working environment. It depends on weather, seasonal pressures and the demands of animal welfare. The proposed restrictions on flexible working arrangements risk leaving farmers tied into costs they simply cannot sustain, particularly outside seasonal periods.”

He continued, “As it stands this alone will ultimately drive up costs, increase legal risk and undermine the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland’s agri-food industry.”

Concerns were also outlined regarding proposals to extend automatic trade union access to workplaces and lower the threshold for trade union recognition from 21 to 10 employees. The UFU said these measures do not reflect the structure of the agri-food sector, which is dominated by small, family-run businesses, and could introduce disproportionate administrative burden and unnecessary complexity.

The Union further stressed that farm businesses often operate within private working environments, including family homes, where access, health and safety and biosecurity must be carefully managed.

Mr Irvine added, “We support fair work and are proud of the good jobs our industry provides, but these proposals, as they stand, are not workable for agriculture, a sector that is already under significant pressure. These are small family run businesses, not large corporate workplaces, and they should not be treated as such.”

The UFU also raised concerns about the pace at which the legislation is being progressed, warning that insufficient time has been given to fully assess the impact on the agri-food sector.

“We have made it clear that there must be meaningful engagement with the industry, including all business representatives from all sectors. Policymakers need to take the time to understand the consequences of these proposals and ensure the final legislative changes are practical, proportionate and fit for purpose for all. This cannot be rushed.”

“Over the last decade, we have seen a year-by-year decrease in the number of farm workers employed, due in part to the excessive burdens placed on employers through standards that are higher for agriculture than other sectors, such as through the Agricultural Wages Board. In many cases, this has resulted in family members having to step in to fill labour gaps. We must not now add further pressure to these farm businesses.”

The UFU will continue to press for changes and engage with the Minister and her Department to ensure that the voice of agriculture is fully represented as the proposals progress.