Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2004
58 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself with the level of implementation of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13821/04]
View answerThe Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 came fully into effect on 1 March 1998. If an employee considers that his or her employer has contravened the provisions in this Act governing holidays, rest breaks, rest periods and maximum average weekly working hours he or she may refer the matter to a rights commissioner for adjudication.
The labour inspectorate of my Department has a limited role in the keeping of records of provisions of the Act. In this connection, when inspectors are pursuing complaints concerning alleged infringements of other employment rights entitlements, they will also check that an employer, in accordance with the prescribed format required by the 1997 Act, is maintaining relevant records. During 2003, inspectors undertook 1,005 such inspections and the figure, to date in 2004, is 336.
In all of the circumstances, I am satisfied with the level of implementation of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The number of cases referred to the rights commissioner service under the 1997 Act in the period 1998 to 2003 is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Number of cases referred to Rights Commissioners under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 |
|
1998 |
395 |
|
1999 |
526 |
|
2000 |
620 |
|
2001 |
740 |
|
2002 |
967 |
|
2003 |
631 |
