Employing people in Northern Ireland
- 4 steps
Northern Ireland Statutory Rule
2003
Northern Ireland
Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
11 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides · 4 journeys
Penalty landscape
2 of 11 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 9 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 5
- Self-Employed Person 1
- Employer 1
- Trustee 1
Plus 3 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
1 guidesMentioned in related content
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Self-Employed People also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 12 duties
- The National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 2010 7 duties
- The General Chiropractic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015 2015 5 duties
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 5 duties
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 1992 4 duties
Employers also bound by 694 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 236 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 120 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 72 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 52 duties
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 2003 50 duties
Trustees also bound by 100 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Occupational Pension Schemes (Collective Money Purchase Schemes) Regulations 2022 2022 37 duties
- Charities Act 2011 2011 26 duties
- The Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2013 2013 26 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 21 duties
- The Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 2005 20 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I — GENERAL
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part II — DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Applicants and employees
- Do not discriminate against or harass job applicants and employees on grounds of sexual orientation Employer
Trustees and managers of occupational pension schemes
- Do not discriminate against pension scheme members based on sexual orientation Trustee
Barristers
- Barristers must not discriminate against pupils or in instructions Self-Employed Person
Partnerships
- Do not discriminate against partners or partnership applicants based on sexual orientation Any Person
Qualifications bodies
- Do not discriminate or harass based on sexual orientation in awarding qualifications Any Person
Providers of vocational training
- Do not discriminate in vocational training based on sexual orientation Any Person
Employment agencies, careers guidance etc
Unlimited fine- Make false statement to an employment agency to justify discrimination Any Person
Browse 12 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Discrimination by persons with statutory power to select employees for others
Exception for genuine occupational requirement etc
Contract workers
Meaning of employment and contract work at establishment in Northern Ireland
Office-holders etc
Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve
The National Crime Agency
Other police bodies
Trade organisations
Assisting persons to obtain employment etc
Institutions of further and higher education
Relationships which have come to an end
Part III — OTHER UNLAWFUL ACTS
Aiding unlawful acts
Unlimited fine- Make false statement that sexual orientation discrimination is lawful Any Person
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part IV — GENERAL EXCEPTIONS FROM PARTS II AND III
Browse 4 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part V — FUNCTIONS OF THE EQUALITY COMMISSION
General duty of Commission
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Equality Commission must eliminate discrimination and promote equality Statutory regulator
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Research and education
Codes of practice
Part VI — ENFORCEMENT
Remedies on complaints in industrial tribunals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Tribunals must determine remedies for sexual orientation discrimination Tribunal / Court
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Restriction of proceedings for breach of Regulations
Jurisdiction of industrial tribunals
Burden of proof: industrial tribunals
Jurisdiction of county courts
Burden of proof: county courts
Help for persons in obtaining information etc
Assistance by Commission
Extension of time limit to facilitate conciliation before institution of proceedings
Period within which proceedings to be brought
Part VII — SUPPLEMENTAL
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Schedules
(1) When an industrial tribunal finds that a complaint presented...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Industrial tribunal must declare void discriminatory terms or rules Tribunal / Court
Browse 25 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
QUESTIONNAIRE OF PERSON AGGRIEVED
AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATION
OCCUPATIONAL PENSION SCHEMES
(1) In this Schedule – “active member”, “deferred member”, “managers”,...
Every occupational pension scheme shall be treated as including a...
The other provisions of the scheme are to have effect...
The trustees or managers of an occupational pension scheme may...
Alterations made by a resolution such as is referred to...
Where under regulation 34 (jurisdiction of industrial tribunals) a member...
(1) This paragraph applies where – (a) under regulation 34...
REPLY BY RESPONDENT
VALIDITY OF CONTRACTS, COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AND RULES OF UNDERTAKINGS
(1) A term of a contract is void where –...
In this Schedule “collective agreement” means any agreement relating to...
(1) Paragraph 1(3) does not apply –
(1) On the application of a person interested in a...
(1) This Part of this Schedule applies to –
A person to whom this paragraph applies may present a...
In the case of a complaint about –
In the case of a complaint about a rule made...
The avoidance by virtue of paragraph 4(2) of any term...
The Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 is amended as...
Article 160 (compensation for acts which are both unfair dismissal...
(1) In Article 85(1) of the Fair Employment and Treatment...
In the Employment Order (Northern Ireland) 2003 at the end...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- What is the Equality Act? | EHRC (opens in a new tab) from EHRC Detailed Guidance
- Equality Act 2010 | EHRC (opens in a new tab) from EHRC Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Statutory body responsible for enforcing equality and non-discrimination laws. Provides guidance on the Equality Act 2010, conducts inquiries, and can take enforcement …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.