Explanatory Memorandum

Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

2015 CHAPTER 1

8th January 2015

Commentary on Sections

Part 2: Shared Rights to Leave and Pay

Section 13: Rate of statutory adoption pay

Subsection (2) amends section 167ZN of the SSCBA, providing for statutory adoption pay to be paid at an earnings related level for the first six weeks and the lower of an earnings related rate or a prescribed weekly rate for the remaining weeks of statutory adoption pay. This modifies the current requirement, which does not require any specific treatment of pay during particular weeks.

It also sets the earnings related rate to be the equivalent of 90% of a person’s normal weekly earnings for the eight weeks ending with the week in which the person was notified of the adoption match. The prescribed weekly rate must not be lower than the highest weekly rate that has been set for statutory sick pay.