Labour and Employment Comparative Guide

1 Legal framework

1.1 Are there statutory sources of labour and employment law?

A number of integral employment rights and protections are enshrined in statute, including the following:

• Right not to be unfairly dismissed: An employee who has two years' service may be dismissed only for one of five potentially fair reasons (conduct, capability, redundancy, statutory restriction or some other substantial reason), and only after a fair process (which varies depending on the reason for dismissal) has been followed.
• Right not to be discriminated against: Employers must not directly or indirectly discriminate, harass or victimise job applicants or employees on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.