Zero Hours Contracts in Northern Ireland

Who this guide is for

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

What this guide does not cover

• Work in England, Wales or Scotland: see the Great Britain guide.
• Northern Ireland zero hours changes that are planned but not law yet. Ask the Labour Relations Agency (LRA).
• Whether you are an employee, a worker or self-employed. Ask the LRA if you are not sure.
• Being paid below the minimum wage: see our minimum wage guide. Dismissal, notice and redundancy: see our employee rights guide.
• Tribunal time limits in detail: see our tribunal deadline guide.

What the rules depend on

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.

If your hours or pay vary, a week's holiday pay is your average weekly pay over the last 12 complete weeks before the holiday starts. Weeks in which you were not paid are left out, and earlier weeks are counted instead. Great Britain uses 52 weeks; that rule does not apply in Northern Ireland. A change to 52 weeks has been proposed for Northern Ireland but is not law yet.

The statutory entitlement is capped at 28 days.

"What else am I entitled to?"

• At least the minimum wage: from 1 April 2026, £12.71 an hour at 21 and over.
• Statutory sick pay from the first full day of sickness absence since 6 April 2026: £123.25 a week, or 80% of your normal weekly earnings if that is lower.
• Your employer must check your right to work before you start (if you are a worker rather than an employee, this applies where you started on or after 1 October 2026). If you have an eVisa, the only way is online, with a share code starting with W. Otherwise they cannot insist on one way of proving it. They must never ask for your passwords.

"My contract says I can't work for anyone else"

In Northern Ireland, no law yet stops a zero hours contract saying you cannot work for anyone else (an exclusivity clause). The Great Britain law that makes these clauses unenforceable does not apply in Northern Ireland. Ask the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) about your contract.

"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

• Most claims: 3 months less 1 day.
• A complaint that your employer did not let you see your minimum wage records: 6 months less 1 day where the failure happened on or after 1 October 2026. Claims for minimum wage arrears, or for being treated badly for asserting the minimum wage, keep 3 months less 1 day.
• Your exact date depends on your facts: see our tribunal deadline guide.

Money figures

• Minimum wage at 21 and over from 1 April 2026: £12.71 an hour.
• Statutory sick pay from 6 April 2026: £123.25 a week, or 80% of normal weekly earnings if lower.

Traps

• Zero hours does not mean no holiday.
• Do not use the Great Britain rules on exclusivity clauses or guaranteed hours here. They do not apply in Northern Ireland.
• There is no Acas early conciliation in Northern Ireland. Use the LRA.