New law to underpin industrial relations reforms
by Bernard Harbor
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Legislation has been published to give statutory force to Government plans to reform the state’s official industrial relations structures. The move, which has been largely welcomed by trade unions, will see just two bodies – a new Workplace Relations Commission and a strengthened Labour Court – replace five existing bodies.
The Workplace Relations Commission will deal with all complaints in the first instance, while the Labour Court will deal with appeals. The legislation is due to be enacted by the end of the year.
The bodies set to be merged into the new structure are the Labour Relations Commission, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal, the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court.
The new arrangement is designed to simplify the system, make it easier to use and understand, and reduce delays. It is also hoped that the new system will be less ‘legalistic’ and, therefore, less expensive to use. Savings of about €2 million (10%) are expected to flow from the change.
There has been substantial consultation with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and employers’ bodies over the new structures.
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