Employing people in Northern Ireland
- 4 steps
Northern Ireland Statutory Rule
2006
Northern Ireland
Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
19 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides · 4 journeys
Penalty landscape
2 of 19 obligations carry an unlimited fine. 17 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.
- Employer 8
- Any Person 5
- Employee 1
- Self-Employed Person 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.
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
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
Employees also bound by 182 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 13 duties
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 12 duties
- Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 2014 10 duties
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 10 duties
- Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 2002 9 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
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 1 — GENERAL
Browse 6 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 2 — DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Applicants and employees
- Do not discriminate against applicants or employees on age grounds Employer
Pension schemes
- Do not discriminate against or harass pension scheme members Trustee
Barristers
- Do not discriminate against or harass barristers' pupils or instructions Self-Employed Person
Partnerships
- Do not discriminate against or harass partners based on age Any Person
Qualifications bodies
- Do not discriminate or harass based on age in professional qualifications Any Person
The provision of vocational training
- Do not discriminate on age grounds when providing vocational training Any Person
Employment agencies, careers guidance etc.
Unlimited fine- Make false or misleading statement to an employment agency 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
Other police bodies
Serious Organised Crime Agency
Trade organisations
Assisting persons to obtain employment etc.
Institutions of further and higher education
Relationships which have come to an end
Part 3 — OTHER UNLAWFUL ACTS
Aiding unlawful acts
Unlimited fine- Aid unlawful age‑discriminatory act Any Person
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part 4 — GENERAL EXCEPTIONS FROM PARTS 2 AND 3
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Exception for statutory authority
Exception for national security etc
Effect of certificates by Secretary of State
Exceptions for positive action
Exception for retirement
Exception for the national minimum wage
Exception for provision of certain benefits based on length of service
Exception for provision of enhanced redundancy payments to employees
Exception for provision of life assurance cover to retired workers
Part 5 — FUNCTIONS OF THE EQUALITY COMMISSION
General duty of Commission
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Equality Commission must eliminate age discrimination and promote equality Statutory regulator
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Research and education
Codes of practice
Part 6 — ENFORCEMENT
Remedies on complaints in industrial tribunals
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Industrial Tribunal must determine remedies for age discrimination Tribunal / Court
Browse 8 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
Period within which proceedings to be brought
Part 7 — SUPPLEMENTAL
Duty to consider working beyond retirement
- Consider employee requests to work beyond retirement age Employer
Duty to consider working beyond retirement – transitional provisions
- Follow transitional rules for 'duty to consider' working past retirement Employer
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 void age-discriminatory terms or rules in well-founded complaints Tribunal / Court
Duty of employer to notify employee
- Notify employees in writing about retirement at least 6 months before the date Employee
Continuing duty to notify employee
- Notify employee in writing if you missed the initial retirement notification Employer
An employer’s duty to consider a request
- Consider an employee's request not to retire Employer
Meeting to consider request
- Hold a meeting and give written decision on request not to retire Employer
Appeals
- Hold appeal meeting and give written decision on retirement appeal Employer
Right to be accompanied
- Permit employees to be accompanied at age-related meetings Employer
Browse 91 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Pension schemes
Questionnaire of person aggrieved
Duty to consider working beyond retirement
Amendments to legislation and related transitional provisions
Interpretation
Contributions under money purchase arrangements
Contributions under defined benefits arrangements
Any limitation on employer contributions in respect of a member...
Age related rules, practices, actions and decisions relating to benefit
(1) A minimum age for any active or prospective members...
Paragraph 13 shall continue to apply to any member who...
(1) A minimum age for any member of a scheme...
An early retirement pivot age or a late retirement pivot...
(1) A minimum age for any member of a scheme...
(1) The calculation of any death benefit payable in respect...
(1) Any rule, practice, action or decision where—
The actuarial reduction of any pension payable from a scheme...
In relation to pensioner members who have retired from a...
Other rules, practices, actions and decisions relating to benefit
(1) Any differences in— (a) the fraction of pensionable pay...
Where paragraph 19A applies, different rates of member or employer...
Non-discrimination rule
Any difference in the amount of any age related benefit...
(1) Any limitation on the amount of any age related...
Any rule, practice, action or decision where any age related...
When determining a member’s pensionable pay by reference to which...
Any difference in the amount of age related benefit or...
Any limitation on the amount of any age related benefit...
Closure of schemes
Closure of sections of schemes
Other rules, practices, actions and decisions
Any difference in the rate of increase of pensions in...
Any difference in the rate of increase of pensions in...
The application of an age limit for transfer of the...
Exception for rules, practices, actions and decisions relating to occupational pension schemes
Registered pension schemes
Contributions by employers
Any difference in the rate of contributions by an employer...
Any limitation on any contributions by an employer, to a...
A minimum age for commencement of payment of contributions by...
Different minimum ages for commencement of payment of contributions by...
Equal rates of contributions by an employer to a personal...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), nothing in Part 2 or...
Exception for rules, practices, actions and decisions relating to contributions by employers to personal pension schemes
Unlawfulness of rules, practices, actions or decisions relating to Part 2 or 3 of this Schedule
Procedure in industrial tribunals
Remedies in industrial tribunals
Admission to schemes
The use of age criteria in actuarial calculations
Contributions
Reply by respondent
Validity of contracts, collective agreements and rules of undertaking
(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— (a) to a contract...
(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...
Interpretation
Dismissal before request considered
Complaint to industrial tribunal: failure to comply with paragraph 2
Complaint to industrial tribunal: denial of right to be accompanied
Detriment and dismissal
(1) This paragraph applies if the employer has notified the...
Statutory right to request not to retire
Duty to consider working beyond retirement – transitional provisions
In paragraphs 2 to 6— (a) “the expiry date” means...
(1) This paragraph applies in a case where—
(1) This paragraph applies in a case where the employer...
(1) This paragraph applies in a case where—
(1) This paragraph applies in a case where—
In every case to which paragraph 2, 3, 4 or...
The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992
The Employment Protection (Continuity of Employment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996
The Petshops Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000
The Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002
The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003
The Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004
The Industrial Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
The Statutory Sick Pay (Northern Ireland) Order 1994
The Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996
The Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996
The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998
The Employment (Northern Ireland) Order 2003
The Riding Establishments Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1980
The Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1982
The Statutory Maternity Pay (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987
Repeals and revocations
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.