Equality and Diversity

Relevant circulars may be downloaded from the Department of Finance website.

• Fixed-Term Workers
• Part-Time Workers
• Equality
• Other Legislation

 

Fixed-Term Workers

The Protection of Employees (Fixed Term Work) Act 2003 protects fixed-term employees by ensuring that they cannot be treated less favourably than comparable permanent workers and that employers cannot continually renew fixed term contracts. Under the Act employees can only work on one or more fixed term contracts for a continuous period of four years. After this the employee is considered to have a contract of indefinite duration (e.g. a permanent contract).

 

Part-Time Workers

The protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001 aims to improve the quality of part-time work and to guarantee that part-time workers may not be treated less favourably than full-time workers.

 

Equality

The Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000 as amended by the Equality Act 2004 outlaws discrimination in employment on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community. The Employment Equality Act 1998 also prohibits sexual and other harassment.

The Disability Act 2005 sets out rights for people with disabilities and places a number of obligations on public bodies including Government Departments and semi-state bodies, as well as most other State organisations.

Additional information is available on The Equality Authority and Department of Finance websites.

>back to top

 

Other Legislation

• Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008  published in March 2008 puts the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) on a statutory footing. NERA was established as part of the national partnership agreement Towards 2016. 
• The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005  sets out the rights and obligations of both employers and employees and provides for substantial fines and penalties for breaches of the legislation.
• National Minimum Wage Act, 2000 introduces an enforceable national minimum wage.
• Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 regulates a variety of employment conditions including maximum working hours, night work, annual and public holiday leave.
• Terms of Employment (Information) Act, 1994 relates to the provision of information on matters such as job description, rate of pay and hours of work.
• Unfair Dismissals Act, 1993  updates unfair dismissals law and amends previous legislation dating from 1977.
• Payment of Wages Act 1991 gives all employees in Ireland a right to a pay slip which will show the gross wage and details of all deductions.
• Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973  is the principal legislation governing this area employment law in Ireland.
  

>back to top