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🕐 Zero Hours Guide

Zero Hours Contracts in Northern Ireland

Holiday for casual and irregular hours, the minimum wage, sick pay and the LRA.

✅ Last verified: 24 September 2026 📚 Sources: listed at the end, each checked on the date shown 🇬🇧 Northern Ireland

💬 Check your own situation

Describe what has happened. The checker answers only from this guide, plus what you tell it, and says so if something is not covered.

Check My Rights →

Who this guide is for

People in Northern Ireland on zero hours or other casual contracts.

What this guide does not cover

⚖ At a glance

  • The statutory minimum holiday is 5.6 weeks a year. If you work casual or irregular hours, you are entitled to paid time off for every hour you work.
  • The minimum wage rates are the same as in the rest of the UK.
  • Since 6 April 2026, statutory sick pay is paid from the first full day of sickness, as in the rest of the UK.
  • The Great Britain guaranteed hours changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025 are not part of this guide for Northern Ireland.

The questions that decide the answer

  1. Are you a worker? Paid holiday needs you to be classed as a worker. The self-employed have no statutory right to paid annual leave.
  2. What has your employer done, and when? The date decides your time limit.

"Do I get holiday?"

You are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks' paid annual leave. If you work casual or irregular hours, you are entitled to paid time off for every hour you work. You start building up holiday as soon as you start work, and when you finish a job you are paid for any holiday you have not taken.

The statutory entitlement is capped at 28 days.

"What else am I entitled to?"

"What can I do?"

Before most claims you must notify the Labour Relations Agency (LRA). Early conciliation through the LRA is free. If you notify the LRA within your time limit, the clock stops for up to 1 calendar month while conciliation takes place, plus up to 14 more days if both sides agree.

Deadlines you must meet

Money figures

Where to go for help

Labour Relations Agency (LRA): 03300 555 300. Free, confidential and impartial advice on employment rights.

Advice NI: 0800 915 4604

Traps

📜 Sources (checked 24 September 2026)

  • nidirect: Holiday entitlements. nibusinessinfo.co.uk: Holiday entitlement (28-day cap).
  • legislation.gov.uk: Employment Rights Act 2025, sections 12 and 13 (SSP in Northern Ireland; SI 2026/373). GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage rates. Business.gov.uk: Employment tribunal time limits (30 July 2026).
  • LRA and Advice NI contact details checked on 24 September 2026.
⚠ Important disclaimer: This guide covers zero hours contracts in Northern Ireland as at 24 September 2026. General legal information only, not legal advice. ukworkrights.co.uk — Not a law firm.

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