Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
159. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the mechanism in place to ensure that Irish, EU and non-EU employees are employed under the same conditions for comparable roles in meat plants here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41063/20]
View answerIreland has a comprehensive body of employment legislation, in respect of which the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is mandated to secure compliance. Ireland’s employment rights legislation protects all employees, including posted and migrant workers, who are legally employed on a contract of service basis. This is specifically set out in Section 20 of the Protection of Employment (Part Time Work) Act 2001.
I am very much aware of the concerns raised about meat plants and I've written to the WRC about the importance of these factories adhering to both employment law and COVID-19 requirements.
Where an individual believes they are being deprived of employment rights applicable to employees, they may refer a complaint to the WRC. The matter can be dealt with by way of mediation or adjudication leading to a decision that is enforceable through the District Court. WRC inspectors can also be asked to investigate certain breaches.
The WRC can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90 or via its website www.workplacerelations.ie and complaints can be made on a single online complaint form.
My Department monitors existing employment rights legislation to ensure that it continues to be relevant and fit for purpose and is updated to reflect international developments at European Union, European Court of Justice and International Labour Organisation level.
