About Us
The Department of Economic Development has responsibility for employment law policy and for bringing forward new employment legislation. The Department welcomes you to the employment rights website the aim of which is to provide information on Isle of Man employment law and best practice to both employers and workers.
Employment Rights
For a brief summary of Isle of Man employment rights click here.
Guidance
A wide range of guidance material is available on the website. For information on guides produced by the Department and other sources please click here.
Do you have a problem at work?
In most cases the Manx Industrial Relations Service (MIRS) should be your first port of call.
Industrial Relations Officers (IROs) who are independent of the Government perform the following roles:
- providing advice to both employers and workers;
- providing individual and collective conciliation services;
- arranging voluntary arbitration and mediation services.
In any dispute relating to individual employment rights, either party may request an Industrial Relations Officer to promote a settlement of the dispute, either before or after a complaint is made to the Employment Tribunal. Please note, however, that discussions with the MIRS do not extend the statutory time limits for bringing any claim to the Tribunal.
For contact details of the MIRS click here.
In addition, the Department of Economic Development’s Employment Services Inspectors enforce certain aspects of employment law. Inspectors can:
- offer advice to employers and workers; and
- deal with various types of complaint.
Inspectors enforce the following:
- the requirement for persons who are not Isle of Man workers to have work permits under the Control of Employment Act 1975;
- the requirement for employers to provide their employees with a written statement of their terms and conditions of employment and also with itemised wage statements under the Employment Act 2006;
- the requirement for most workers other than those of compulsory school age to be paid at least the minimum wage under the Minimum Wage Act 2001;
- the requirement for employment agencies, and employment businesses to be licensed under the Employment Agencies Act 1975;
- the requirement for employers to insure their employees under the Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1976.
For contact details of the Inspectorate and also for details of other relevant organisations such as the Health and Safety at Work Inspectorate click here.
Permission to work on the Isle of Man
For information on (i) work permits under the Control of Employment Act (for workers from the UK, Ireland and the rest of the European Economic Area) and (ii) permission to work under the Points Based System, (for workers from outside the European Economic Area) see the separate page "Work Permits" and subsidiary pages.
Employment Law Updates
The Department publishes an electronic newsletter which contains information on developments in the Island's employment law. If you would like to subscribe please send an e mail to emplaw@gov.im. Past newsletters are available on the What's New Link.
UK Employment Issues
The information on this website concerns Isle of Man employment law. This differs from UK employment law in a number of important ways. Information about UK employment law can be obtained from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The site has links to both the Business Links website, which contains guidance for employers and the Direct Gov website which contains information aimed at workers. In addition, advice can also be found on the ACAS website; ACAS has a role in the UK which is broadly equivalent to that of the Manx Industrial Relations Service.



