Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
85. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of criminal prosecutions that there has been for offences set out in the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 since its commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54900/22]
View answerThe Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) carries out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with certain employment law statutes. Inspections arise for various reasons including complaints received of alleged non-compliance and by way of compliance campaigns which focus on compliance in specific sectors or with specific employment law statutes.
The WRC's aim is to achieve voluntary compliance through the provision of education and awareness, inspection of employers’ employment records and enforcement where necessary. While every effort is made to secure compliance, some employers either refuse or fail to rectify the breaches identified and/or pay money due to their employees and these cases are referred for prosecution.
Details of the number of prosecutions under the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 for the years 2013 to September 2022 are set out in the table attached. This data is not available prior to 2013.
|
Year |
No of Prosecutions |
|
2022 |
12 |
|
2021 |
16 |
|
2020 |
11 |
|
2019 |
4 |
|
2018 |
1 |
|
2017 |
14 |
|
2016 |
15 |
|
2015 |
18 |
|
2014 |
13 |
|
2013 |
6 |
