NERA’s aim is to secure compliance with employment rights legislation and to foster a culture of employment rights compliance in Ireland. Part of the Authority’s strategy is to focus on enforcement and awareness activities on specific industry sectors and specific legislation in addition to ongoing routine inspections.
In the course of 2008, it is intended that NERA inspectors will carry out targeted inspection campaigns focusing on areas including security, catering, hotels, agriculture and mushrooms, the National Minimum Wage Act and the Protection of Young Persons Act. The campaign in the security sector is currently being completed.
Last year NERA inspectors carried out 1,939 inspections under the National Minimum Wage Act, recovering €122,015 in arrears for employees.
Director of NERA, Ger Deering has advised that "NERA's first targeted inspection and awareness campaign for 2008 focused on the security industry. While the campaign itself ran between 18 February and 20 March 2008, much of the work, like all campaigns, takes place over once the initial phase has been completed".
He further advised that "the campaign was carried out on a nationwide basis and as of 8 August 2008, a total of 122 calls/visits/inspections have been recorded, with breaches detected in 52 cases. This represents a 55% incidence of breach compared to 21% in all sectors"
He pointed out, however, that the percentage figures given for breaches detected is based on the number of inspections carried out. A high percentage of breaches does not necessarily indicate a high rate of non-compliance within a particular sector.
Inspections carried out in the security sector this year have resulted in a total of €157,017 in arrears of wages due to employees being recovered. This figure represents 12% of the total of €1,307,961 recovered from all sectors this year to date.
Irish Security Industry Association Ltd, A company limited by Guarantee and not having a Share Capital, Company Number 36632 VAT Registration No.14072480 Reg.Add: Security Centre, Unit 1 IDA Industrial Est., Balbriggan Co. Dublin, Ireland.
