Ingrid Miley

Industry and Employment Correspondent

It was agreed in 2006 that the number of inspectors should increase to 90

WRC short 47 labour inspectors, Dáil hears

The Workplace Relations Commission only has 53 labour inspectors, when its authorised staffing complement is 90, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment Damien English told the Dáil this evening.

Business • 25 Mar 21

ICTU says that the Programme for Government has committed to increase the rate to a living wage over the lifetime of the current administration

ICTU review says minimum wage should rise by 3%

The National Minimum Wage should rise by almost 3% or 30 cent to €10.50 per hour from next January, according to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

Business • 23 Mar 21

In a post on the Congress website, General Secretary Patricia King takes issues with a recent article in the Irish Times

ICTU defends Govt proposals to boost remote working

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has strongly defended the Government's proposals to boost remote working, and has hit out at calls for the right to disconnect from work to be scrapped.

Business • 23 Mar 21

This week's payments will cost just over €134 million.

PUP numbers down 1.5% in the last week

Just under 450,000 people will receive the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week, a reduction of 7,000 or 1.5% over the last 7 days.

Business • 22 Mar 21

Public water services in Ireland are currently delivered by 3,000 public servants in local authorities in conjunction with Irish Water

SIPTU calls for referendum on water privatisation

SIPTU is writing to all TDs and senators reiterating calls for a referendum to prohibit privatisation of water services - as the Government seeks to accelerate the integration of local authority water services personnel into the Irish Water utility.

Ireland • 22 Mar 21

The unions highlighted the additional strain and risk attached to healthcare workers during the current crisis

Healthcare unions refer leave claim to WRC

Unions representing healthcare workers have referred their claim for 10 days additional annual leave in recognition of their work during the pandemic to the Workplace Relations Commission.

Ireland • 19 Mar 21

The unions submitted the claim last November, highlighting the additional strain and risk attached to their work during the current crisis

Healthcare unions refer leave claim to WRC

Unions representing health care workers have referred their claim for ten days additional annual leave in recognition of their work during the pandemic to the Workplace Relations Commission.

Business • 19 Mar 21

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment accounted for €6.3 billion of the total

State spends €11.5bn on Covid-19 welfare supports

The State spent a total of €11.5 billion on welfare supports over the last year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest figures from the Department of Social Protection.

Coronavirus • 19 Mar 21

The Tánaiste was addressing a seminar of the Employment Bar Association (file image)

Essential workers should receive living wage - Varadkar

Essential workers including those in retail, transport, cleaning and food service should receive a living wage with access to an occupational pension, according to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar.

Business • 18 Mar 21

The party's Enterprise Trade and Employment spokesperson Louise O'Reilly

SF proposes legislation to boost redundancy rights

Sinn Féin has proposed legislation to boost the redundancy rights of workers who end up being laid off for lengthy periods, and to create an offence for employers who wrongfully deprive employees of their entitlements.

Business • 18 Mar 21