The Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 came into effect on 6th April 2005 and implement the Northern Ireland Directive 2002/14/EC on establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community. They establish a right for employees (or their representatives) to be informed and consulted by their employer on matters prescribed by the Regulations, such as decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation or contractual relations. They currently apply to undertakings with 100 or more employees and will apply to those with 50 or more employees from 6th April 2008.
The Regulations were amended in 2006 in relation to information and consultation, via a negotiated or standard agreement, on pension issues. The primary focus on informing and consulting in the above area relates to: 'listed changes' affecting occupational or personal pension schemes, when the Regulations can be dis-applied, provisions for the employer to inform the appropriate individuals that he will be complying in writing with the duty.
The Regulations were further amended in 2011, in relation to agency workers and how they are affected by the Regulations, by the Agency Workers Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011, which came into operation on 5th December 2011.