Austin Currie
Question:135 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment whether full-time and part-time workers have the same redundancy, unfair dismissal and other rights; and if not, the reason therefor.
Written Answers. - Redundancy Rights.
Regular part-time employees have the same rights as full-time employees under a wide range of worker protection legislation, including redundancy and unfair dismissals legislation, since the implementation of the Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time Employees) Act, 1991.
The Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time Employees) Act, 1991 extends the benefits of a range of protective legislation to regular part-time employees and provides that regular part-time employees are entitled to the benefits of the Redundancy Payments Acts, 1967 to 1990, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 and 1984, the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts, 1977 and 1988, the Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 1993, the Maternity Protection of Employees Act, 1981 and the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Acts, 1984 and 1990.
The 1991 Act also extends to regular part-time employees, on a modified basis, the benefit of the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973. Regular part-time employees are entitled to annual leave at the rate of six hours per 100 hours worked and proportionally less where fewer hours are worked.
Regular part-time employees are defined in the 1991 Act as those who have been in the continuous service of the employer for at least 13 weeks, are normally expected to work not less than eight hours per week and who, but for the Act, would be excluded from benefits under the legislation amended by the Act.