NERA inspections more than double in 2008

The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) carried out 11,499 inspections of employers in the first half of 2008, an increase of 6,675 on the number that took place in the first half of 2007.

Breaches of legislation were detected in 16% of cases, resulting in the recovery of over €1 million in arrears due to employees.

In addition to ongoing routine inspections, NERA follow a similar inspection policy to the HSA (Health and Safety Authority), focussing on specific industry sectors and areas of legislation. From a legislative perspective, recent NERA campaigns have focused on the National Minimum Wage and Protection of Young Persons Act. An inspection campaign was also brought to bear on the catering sector.

NERA work in tandem with the Revenue Commissioners and the Dept of Social and Family Affairs. They have identified two specific areas of non-compliance by employers - statutory record-keeping requirements and with rates of pay.

According to the Employer Resource Bureau (ERB); "Employers are responsible for ensuring all their employees receive certain basic employment rights. These rights are governed by a range of detailed employment legislation."

The following is an outline of these rights:

• A written statement of terms and conditions of employment
• A written statement of pay or payslip
• The minimum wage
• A maximum working week average of 48 hours a week. The employer must keep a record of how many hours employees work.
• Unpaid breaks during work hours
• Annual leave from work
• A minimum amount of notice before dismissal

Visit www.employmentrights.ie and www.erb.ie for further information.


350,000 Danish workers to engage with training by 2010

3F, the largest trade union in Denmark has set itself the unenviable task of talking with all 350,000 of its members about adult education and up skilling over the next two years.

"Many of our members are reluctant towards education. That is why we have to grab every single member by the hand and treat him or her with respect," says secretary of the campaign Per Christensen. Similar to the situation in Ireland, the prospect for unskilled workers is bleak in Denmark, and so 3F is taking steps to better prepare its members.

"They work in sectors of the economy where enterprises close down," adds Christensen. "And they are not very well prepared or motivated to move, neither geographically nor job-wise".

Local branches of 3F will seek to convince members of the vital importance of education and training for their futures. Each worker will be urged to enrol in an adult education institution, where they will undergo an assessment of their competencies and be guided into the most appropriate line of training or education.

"It is so much easier to convince the workers when we have the support of the employers. But that is not always the case. You know, in good times they cannot find time for their employees participating in training or education. And in bad times they cannot afford the costs," says Christensen. (Source: EAEA - European Association for Education of Adults)


Lack of support for working from home in Ireland

Research by specialist broadband provider Centrecom has revealed that 40% less Irish people work from home than the EU average, while 69% of Irish workers would be more likely to join a company that offered eWork. The findings were released at the same time as Centrecom launched a new website - eWorkingIreland.com - that will provide Irish companies and employees with information about saving money through eWorking and teleworking.

“Given the stormy economic waters we are currently experiencing, now may well be the time for Irish employers to embrace eWorking ”, explained Mr. Christopher Plockelman, Manager Director of Centrecom.

Mr. Plockelman continued, “Dublin is the ninth most expensive city in the world for office rents; petrol prices are near an all time high; Dublin has the slowest traffic speeds of any city in Europe; and commuting is constantly sited as a cause of work dissatisfaction. Add in the ever increasing wages bill, and the absolute need to control costs across the economy, now is the ideal time for employers and government to consider eWorking.”

“eWorkingIreland.com has been launched to provide comprehensive information to employers and staff interested in eWorking in Ireland. The website refers to numerous studies and reports that testify to the cost saving advantages of having employees work part-time from home”, he added.

Among other research findings available on eWorkingIreland.com are:

• 75% and 85% of workers were more productive when working in a flexible environment, according to Patricia Roehling, professor of psychology at Hope College and the former director of research at the Cornell Employment and Family Careers Institute.
• By eliminating commuting 2.5 days per week, an employee reduces the energy used for work by the equivalent of 5,400 kilowatt hours each year, according to a study by technology giant, Sun
• 1 day eWorking per week - 20% Reduction in Rush Hour Traffic, saving £2b per year, according to the Motoring Towards 2050 report compiled by the RAC