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UK Law Reference
All sections of Employment Rights Act 1996
1996 c. 18, s.47

Section 47 — Employee representatives.

Extent: E+W+S

This version in force from 2006-04-06

Snapshot: 2026-08-24

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .

(1) An employee has the right not to be subjected to any detriment by any act, or any deliberate failure to act, by his employer done on the ground that, being—

(a) an employee representative for the purposes of Chapter II of Part IV of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (redundancies) or [F1 regulations 9, 13 and 15 of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006] , or

(b) a candidate in an election in which any person elected will, on being elected, be such an employee representative,

he performed (or proposed to perform) any functions or activities as such an employee representative or candidate.

(1A) [F2 An employee has the right not to be subjected to any detriment by any act, or by any deliberate failure to act, by his employer done on the ground of his participation in an election of employee representatives for the purposes of Chapter II of Part IV of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (redundancies) or [F3 regulations 9, 13 and 15 of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 ] . ]

(2) . . . This section does not apply where the detriment in question amounts to a dismissal (within the meaning of [F4 Part X]).

Amendment notes

  1. F1 Words in s. 47(1)(a) substituted (6.4.2006 with application in accordance with reg. 21(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/246), regs. 1(2), 20, Sch. 2 para. 10(a)
  2. F2 S. 47(1A) inserted (28.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1925, reg. 12
  3. F3 Words in s. 47(1A) substituted (6.4.2006 with application in accordance with reg. 21(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/246), regs. 1(2), 20, Sch. 2 para. 10(a)
  4. F4 Words in s. 47(2) substituted (25.10.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 18(2)(b); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I (with Sch. 3 para. 2)