A public consultation document on the Good Jobs (Employment Rights) Bill states that the Department is consulting on unpaid leave for carers, walking back from a Sinn Féin motion in March 2024 that advocated support for the provision of paid carer's leave in Northern Ireland. 
 
Expressing her support for paid carers leave, the South Belfast MLA added: “Carers across Northern Ireland, many of whom themselves have health conditions or disabilities, do important and critically undervalued work within our economy. 
 
“According to the latest census, over 220,000 people are providing unpaid care for family and friends, underlining just how dependent we are on them to hold our society and economy together. Without unpaid carers, our health and social care system would be overwhelmed far and above what it is today. 
 
“Following the passing of a Sinn Féin motion supporting paid carers leave in the Assembly in March 2024, it was both surprising and disappointing that the Economy Minister did not commit to delivering this important support mechanism as part of the forthcoming Good Jobs Bill. We will robustly challenge their roll back and continue to advocate for the inclusion of paid carers leave.
 
“We know that carers are often forced out of the workplace or to reduce their hours significantly due to the demands of their caring responsibilities, which has a detrimental impact both on the individuals involved and our wider economy. 
 
“Providing paid carer's leave and supporting more carers to stay in the labour market is positive for workers, business and our wider economy. Unfortunately, the methodology underpinning the cost modelling for paid carers leave within the consultation appears to be disingenuous and we are calling on the Minister to properly scope the potential inclusion of paid carer’s leave in any forthcoming legislation.”