As I have explained to the Deputy previously the labour inspectorate of my Department is comprised of ten inspectors who have responsibility for enforcing 21 employment regulation orders (EROs)/registered employment agreements (REAs) which lay down minimum rates of pay and other conditions of employment in 19 individual sectors, amongst them the catering sector, and 11 labour law legislative enactments. In 1998, 1,138 visits were made to catering sector establishments nationwide by the inspectorate, resulting in the detection of 47 irregular cases in the matter of pay and holiday entitlements and in the collection of £54,360 by way of arrears due to the affected employees. The south east region, Counties Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary SR, accounted for 153 of these visits and for seven of the irregular cases where £4,674 of the total arrears figure was collected.
I am satisfied that, having regard to the extensive range of legislation and EROs/REAs in respect of which my inspectors exercise an enforcement function, a reasonable enforcement service is provided on behalf of workers generally. Within their overall responsibilities the inspectors give reasonable coverage to the catering sector nationwide and, in relation to catering establishments in the south-east region, I am satisfied that their enforcement work represents a fair proportion of the volume of their activity.
I have no plans at this time to augment my existing complement of inspectors but I would like to take this opportunity to advise the Deputy that I will be shortly launching an intensive enforcement campaign with a major emphasis on the catering sector nationwide. This campaign will run for six months and will involve the full complement of inspectors and inspectorate section administration staff in an operation targeted at non-compliant employers. The campaign will be publicly announced and it is my intention that it shall have a high public profile through media advertising. Appropriate action, including legal proceedings where necessary, will be taken against all employers found to be in breach of their obligations to their employees.
