David Stanton
Ceist:100 Mr. Stanton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the responsibilities of her Department in relation to employment rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22006/97]
Written Answers. - Employment Rights.
My Department is responsible for the administration and enforcement of a broad range of protective labour legislation. The legislation covers such areas as holidays, unfair dismissal, minimum notice, terms of employment, protection of young persons and payment of wages. Enforcement of the legislation is carried out through routine inspections and the investigation of complaints. In addition to such activities, various legislative provisions enable my Department to act on behalf of an employee whose employer has failed to honour a decision-determination of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.
My Department also enforces employment regulations orders and registered employment agreements made under the Industrial Relations Acts. These orders set out minimum pay and conditions in traditionally low-paid or unorganised areas of employment such as clothing, catering, hotels, hairdressing, retail grocery and allied trades and agriculture. Registered agreements also set out legally binding rates of pay.
The employment rights information unit of my Department operates an information service to answer inquiries from people about employment rights legislation and to inform people of the rights and obligations of employees and employers under the legislation. Details of the EROs and REAs may be located on Network 2 Aertel, page 555. The labour inspectorate, which enforces EROs and REAs, also operates a freephone 1800 275 375 to deal with queries in this area.
A revised guide to labour law, which updates a previous guide was published by the Department in September, 1997 and is available from the information unit. The guide provides a summary, in straightforward and non-technical terms, of the main provisions of labour law for which my Department is responsible. The guide is very useful as a quick reference guide to employers and employees alike in the labour law area. More detailed explanatory leaflets on individual pieces of labour law are also available from the information unit.