Vol. 521 No. 1
31 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections that have been carried out since 1 April 2000 to ascertain compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000; the degree of non-compliance which has been discovered; the action being taken in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16542/00]
93 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of inspections that have been carried out since 1 April 2000 to ascertain compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act, 2000; the degree of non-compliance which has been discovered; the actions being taken with regard to such non-compliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16616/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 93 together.
In the period 1 April to 31 May 245 inspections for compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act were carried out by the labour inspectorate. These were concentrated in the footwear/drapery and retail/grocery sectors. A very small – almost negligible – number of infringements were identified. These infringements "all very minor in nature and the result more of misinterpretation of the legislation than of deliberate capability on the part of the employers involved" were all rectified at the time of the inspection through the intervention of the visiting inspectors. In the same period seven written complaints alleging non-compliance by employers with national minimum wage pay rate requirements were filed direct with the inspectorate by aggrieved employees. These are under investigation at the moment.
