New laws to extend maternity leave and introduce flexible working arrangements must be widened to benefit more workers, a Stormont committee argued today.
The Employment and Learning Committee is to put forward an amendment to the Employment Bill, which if accepted, would extend the new rights to a further 100,000 workers.
It is proposing that the enhanced rights under the legislation should be made available to part-time workers, casual workers and people on short term contracts.
The Employment Bill, currently at committee stage will introduce a range of measures including the extension of maternity leave to 26 weeks.
It also proposes that parents of children under six or of disabled children under 18 have the right to request flexible working arrangements.
Currently the legislation is intended to cover "employees" rather than the more catch-all term "workers".
Proposing the amendment, Sinn Fein's Ms Michelle Gildernew said that many of those that the bill was designed to help may not qualify under its present wording.
"We have a duty and onus to make sure we have the best package for the people who need it most," she said.
Assembly researchers have calculated that if the legislation was widened, those affected would increase from around 600,000 to 700,000.
They have estimated that it would cost an extra £3m to set up the scheme and a further £1m per year to run.
Opposing the amendment, Ms Joan Carson (UUP) said it would create problems for businesses.
"Industrialists are working towards the UK system and they are finding there are problems. There is going to be a minefield if we widen it to workers."
An official from the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) said the amendment would represent a massive change in the intention of the bill.
"If we were to change from employee to worker it would include a number of people who weren't intended to be included in the scheme," he said.
PA