Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald met with stakeholders today to outline the implications of the Good Jobs Bill for families, employers, and wider society.

The meeting, held at Parliament Buildings, was attended by representatives from the community and voluntary sector. Attendees specifically included organisations representing carers, women, young people, older people, ethnic minorities, and families of sick and premature babies.

Key measures contained within the Good Jobs Bill include:

• A right for zero hours workers to move to a banded hours contract. However, zero hour contracts will still be permitted where work is genuinely casual or seasonal, and where that flexibility suits both the worker and the employer.

• Ensuring tips, gratuities, and service charges are passed on to workers in full. • Providing neonatal care leave and pay.

• Introducing a new entitlement to unpaid carer's leave.

• Reforming paternity leave.

• Strengthening redundancy protection for pregnant employees and individuals returning from family-related leave.

Minister Archibald explained: "The Good Jobs Bill reflects significant work to deliver a balanced and considered package of measures, representing the most significant reforms in a generation.

"It introduces progressive changes to strengthen transparency and fairness from the very start of employment.

"Taken together, these measures set out a clear vision for the kind of economy and society we want to build, one that supports families, gives confidence to employers and benefits everyone."

Ongoing engagement sessions with other stakeholders, including trade unions and businesses, will be conducted later this week.