EMPLOYERS GROUP Ibec has repeated calls for “substantial changes” to the Employment Law Compliance Bill, which is at the second reading stage in the Dáil.
Ibec said the Bill in its current format would harm the economy, discourage companies from taking on staff and went “far beyond the scope of what was necessary” for the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) to function.
Ibec director Brendan McGinty said the Bill as it stood contained 23 new criminal offences for employers and placed a much heavier burden of compliance on companies than currently existed.
“In the current climate of job losses, the Bill as published will only harm the Irish economy and increase unnecessary litigation. It will ultimately cost jobs,” he said.
The main purpose of the Bill is to establish NERA as a statutory body and clarify and strengthen the powers of the labour inspectors that work for NERA. urged
Mr McGinty said measures in relation to search warrants, name and shame provisions, compliance notices, enforcement orders and fixed payment notices were “unreasonable, disproportionate and in many case impractical”.
Minister for Labour Affairs Billy Kelleher has already indicated that the Bill will be amended to reflect consultations with the social partners before it is enacted into law. The amendments will include the removal of a section on fixed payment notices. Employers will also not be required to keep a copy of every employee’s passport, as had been originally proposed.
