Employment Legislation – What’s on the Horizon in 2026?
While auto-enrolment and pay transparency are the headline employment compliance issues heading into 2026, there are also a number of draft Bills at various stages of the legislative process. We will be monitoring the progress of the following draft legislation in particular in the new year:
Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Bill 2025
The main provisions provide that in situations where an Employee is subject to a contractual retirement age which is below the State Pension Age they may provide written notification to the Employer that they do not consent to retire at the contractual retirement age.
Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025
Introduced in the Seanad by a group of Sinn Féin senators, this Bill includes a proposal to provide for prohibiting discrimination based on a person’s socio-economic disadvantaged background by amending the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000.
Pregnancy Loss (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025
Introduced in the Seanad by a group of Sinn Féin senators, this Bill proposes to provide for a period of paid leave upon the loss of a pregnancy. As drafted, the entitlement would be available to Employees from day one of employment and be for a period of 5 working days.
Organisation of Working Time (Leave for Health Screening Purposes) Bill 2025
Would entitle an Employee to three days’ paid leave to avail of (a) a cervical, breast or colon cancer screening programme provided by the Health Service Executive for the benefit of persons of the Employee’s age, gender and general health status, or (b) any other screening programme recommended to the employee by his or her medical practitioner, having regard to the Employee’s age, gender and general health status.
Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) (Amendment) Bill 2025
The Bill will make changes to the Insolvency Payments Scheme, which protects Employees’ pay-related entitlements if their Employer becomes insolvent. The Bill would expand access to the Insolvency Payments Scheme to protect Employees of Employers who cease trading without entering into liquidation, receivership or bankruptcy
Need help managing your Organisation’s HR and employment law compliance? Contact the team at Adare today at info@adarehrm.ie or by phone at 01 5613594 for a confidential discussion on how we can assist your Organisation.