The Irish Department (Ministry) of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation (DETI) publishes a series of booklets which detail your rights as a worker in Ireland including the following areas: Guide to Labour Law in Ireland, Unfair Dismissals, Payment of Wages, Terms of Employment, Holidays and Public Holidays. This information is available on www.deti.ie

In 2007 a new statutory employment rights compliance office was established (the National Employment Rights Authority - NERA) to promote compliance with employment rights legislation and to provide information on employment rights. It manages the Labour Inspectorate and Employment Rights sections of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. For more information please log onto http://www.employmentrights.ie/

From the 1st of July, 2011 the minimum wage is €8.65 per hour.

The minimum rate of pay increases from time to time. Details of current minimum rates are always available from the Employment Rights Information Unit or on www.deti.ie

Certain sectors of industry, including agriculture, catering, contract cleaning, construction, electrical contract, hotels (outside Dublin city, Dun Laoghaire, Cork city), retail grocery, and security are covered by legally binding Agreements / Orders which set minimum rates of pay, which may be in excess of the National Minimum Wage. Details and copies of these Agreements / Orders are available on request from the Employment Rights Information Unit, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on www.deti.ie

Contract of Employment

The Terms of Employment (Information) Act, 1994, requires employers to provide employees with a written statement of certain particulars of the employees' terms of employment. The written statement must include particulars of

• the terms of employment relating to the name and address of the employer
• the place of work
• job title/nature of the work
• date of commencement of employment
• the expected duration of contract (if temporary contract) or the date on which the contract will expire (if fixed-term contract)
• rate or method of calculation of pay
• pay intervals
• hours of work (including overtime)
• statutory rest period and rest break entitlements
• paid leave
• incapacity for work due to sickness or injury
• pensions and pension schemes
• notice entitlements, collective agreements

The Acts do not apply to a person who has been in the continuous service of the
employer for less than 1 month. The written statement of particulars must be provided by the employer within two months of the date of commencement of employment.

Trade Unions

Membership of a Trade Union is voluntary. In Irish employment law you have exactly the same rights as Irish workers. One of Ireland’s largest unions, SIPTU,
has established a branch for overseas workers. For further information contact SIPTU on Lo Call 1890 747 881 or email organising@siptu.ie or log onto http://www.siptu.ie/