New regulations have been approved that will make it unlawful to blacklist workers from employment as a result of union membership or other activities.

Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Stephen Farry approved the regulations today.

In 2009, the Information Commissioner discovered a list of the names of 3,214 workers and environmentalists who had been secretly 'blacklisted' for being union members or for raising health and safety concerns on construction sites.

Under the new regulations, current and former trade union members may complain to an industrial tribunal if they are refused employment, subjected to a detriment, or unfairly dismissed for a reason relating to a blacklist. Employment agencies will be unable to refuse to provide a service because a worker appears on a blacklist.

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It will also be unlawful to compile, use, sell or supply blacklists containing details of people who are, or have been, trade union members or who are taking part, or have taken part, in trade union activities.

Courts will be able to award damages, including damages for injury to feelings, where the relevant provisions are breached.

The Regulations will be formally debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly within the next six months.

Dr Farry stated: "Blacklisting an individual because he or she is a member of a trade union is totally unacceptable. We will now strengthen the law by introducing new Regulations to outlaw the compilation, dissemination, and use of blacklists and stamp out this covert and divisive practice."

(IT/MH)