An Employment Regulation Order fixes minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for workers in certain sectors and employers in those sectors are obliged to pay wage rates and provide conditions of employment not less favourable than those prescribed.
An employer of workers to whom an ERO applies must keep records of wages, payments, etc., and must retain these records for three years.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is an office under the remit of my Department and the WRC can provide information to persons with questions or complaints regarding their rights under employment law.
Any breaches of an Employment Regulation Order may be referred to the WRC for appropriate action.
If enterprises that are covered by Employment Regulation Orders are experiencing severe financial difficulties, they can apply to the Labour Court for an exemption from their obligation to pay the rates provided for in the Orders for a specified period of time. The criteria relating to such exemptions is provided for in the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012.