Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
131. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the board of a group (details supplied) communicated to him its intention to disregard an agreed severance package and proceed with a reduced package following the consultation period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13054/21]
View answerI extend my sympathies to the workers in the Rehab Group who are in danger of losing their jobs. I fully appreciate how difficult the situation is for those involved and for their families.
The Protection of Employment Act 1977 imposes a number of obligations on employers who are proposing collective redundancies including an obligation under sections 9 and 10 to engage in an information and consultation process with employees’ representatives and to provide certain information relating to the proposed redundancies. Section 11A of the Act provides that, where an employee believes the employer to be in breach of sections 9 or 10, they may pursue a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission. It is also an offence under section 11 of the Act where an employer fails to comply with sections 9 or 10.
There is also an obligation under section 12 which makes it mandatory on employers proposing a collective redundancy to notify the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment of the proposed collective redundancy. My Department received notification of the proposed redundancies in the Rehab Group on 17th February 2021.
It is the employer’s responsibility by law to pay statutory redundancy to eligible employees. Negotiations on enhanced redundancy packages over and above the statutory entitlement are a voluntary matter between an employer and its employees and the Government has no role in this.
The Government will work in a coordinated way to assist any person who loses their job. My colleague Heather Humphreys T.D. the Minister for Social Protection would be best placed to advise further on supports for jobseekers with disabilities, including the EmployAbility service which is an employment and recruitment service that helps people who have a disability to secure and maintain employment.
Finally, the Workplace Relations Commission provides information on employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations, and can be contacted at Lo-call 1890 80 80 90 or via its website www.workplacerelations.ie.
