Commentary on Sections Part 1 Section 3: Sunday working in a licensed office
Section 3(1) and (2) amend the definition of betting work in Schedule 8A of the 1985 Order (rights of betting workers as regards Sunday working) to include work in a licensed office. The Schedule is construed as at one with the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 which consolidates employment rights laws in a range of areas including Sunday working.
Section 3(3) therefore substitutes the definition of “commencement date” in paragraph 1(4) of Schedule 8A so as to include betting work under the meaning of Section 3(2).
Section 3(4) amends paragraph 8(4) of Schedule 8A to also include “betting work” as work at a licensed office on a Sunday which is open for business.
Section 3(5) inserts an additional provision into Article 53B of the 1985 Order (Sunday observance) which states that the Sunday Observance Act (Ireland) 1695 does not apply to any person who has effected a betting transaction on a non-sporting event at either a track or a licensed office which is open on a Sunday.
The rights of individuals employed in a licensed bookmakers’ office now mirror those of individuals who work at a track for a bookmaker with respect to Sunday working.