Workplace Relations Commission
{{short description |Adjudication body in Ireland}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Workplace Relations Commission
| type = State Agency of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
| logo = Workplace Relations Commission 2015 Logo.png
| formed = 1 October 2015
| preceding1 = Labour Relations Commission
| preceding2 = Employment Appeals Tribunal
| preceding3 = National Employment Rights Authority
| jurisdiction = Ireland
| headquarters = O'Brien Road, Carlow, R93 E920
| chief1_name = Liam Kelly
| chief1_position = Director General
| chief2_name = Dr David Begg
| chief2_position = Chair
| parent_department = Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
| website = https://www.workplacerelations.ie/
}}
The Workplace Relations Commission (also known as its abbreviation, the WRC and sometimes referred to as the Commission) is the independent State agency responsible for industrial relations in Ireland, established under the Workplace Relations Act 2015. {{cite web |title=Workplace Relations Commission |url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/enforcement_and_redress/labour_relations_commission.html |access-date=14 November 2018 |work=Citizens Information Board}}
Upon its formation, it replaced, and took over all the functions of the Labour Relations Commission, Employment Appeals Tribunal and the National Employment Rights Authority. {{Cite web |last= |first= |date=28 July 2014 |title=Workplace Relations Act 2015 – No. 16 of 2015 – Houses of the Oireachtas |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2014/79 |access-date=27 November 2022 |website=Houses of the Oireachtas |language=en-ie}}
History
Before the formation of the Workplace Relations Commission in 2015, there were several organisations that were responsible for industrial relations in the State, including the Labour Relations Commission, Employment Appeals Tribunal and the National Employment Rights Authority.
These different organisations caused confusion amongst employees and employers, as it was unclear what organisation was the correct one to raise certain issues with. This led to the then-Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton submitting a proposal to the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in July 2012 that a new Workplace Relations Commission be formed. {{Cite web |date=1 July 2012 |title=Legislating For A World-Class Workplace Relations Service |url=https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/publications_forms/legislating_for_a_world-class_workplace_relations_service.pdf |access-date=27 November 2022 |website=Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation}}
Two years later in July 2014, the Workplace Relations Act 2015 was presented to the Oireachtas, and was signed into law by the President in May 2015. In July 2015, in a Statutory Order, the Minister set 1 October 2015 as the date that the Workplace Relations Act would be commenced (i.e. when the new Workplace Relations Commission would form and the preceding agencies would dissolve).{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=31 July 2015 |title=S.I. No. 338/2015 - Workplace Relations Act 2015 (Commencement) Order 2015 |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/si/338/made/en/print |access-date=27 November 2022 |website=Irish Statute Book |language=en}}
Services provided by the Workplace Relations Commission
The Workplace Relations Commission's primary and most-known service is their complaints service, where employees can present complaints in relation to contraventions of, and disputes as to entitlements under employment, equality and equal status legislation to the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission.{{Cite web |title=How to Make a Complaint/Refer a Dispute |url=https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/complaints_disputes/refer_a_dispute_make_a_complaint/ |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=Workplace Relations Commission |language=en}} It also provides alternative dispute relation services including conciliation and mediation. {{Cite web |title=Guide to the Workplace Relations Commission |url=https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/publications_forms/wrc-quick-guide-booklet-eng-.pdf |access-date=27 November 2022 |website=Workplace Relations Commission}}
The WRC's Information and Customer Service Division provides advice and guidance to employees and employers on employment law rights, equality rights and industrial relations.{{Cite web |title=Information Guides & Booklets |url=https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/publications_forms/guides_booklets/ |access-date=2022-11-27 |website=Workplace Relations Commission |language=en}} New regulations in 2024 introduced on-the-spot fines for breaches in employment laws, pertaining to redundancies, contracts, and distribution of tips and gratuities.{{cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Mason |last2=Crowley |first2=Curran LLP-Melanie |last3=Connolly |first3=Ger |last4=Daly |first4=Avril |title=New On-the-Spot Fines for Breaches of Employment Laws |url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=76fd082e-d141-45a6-b556-cf3326b702af |website=Lexology |publisher=Law Business Research |access-date=5 September 2024 |language=en |date=8 February 2024}}
The WRC also conducts inspections of workplaces and ensures employers compliance with employment law.{{Cite web |title=An Employers Guide to WRC Inspections |url=https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/publications_forms/employers_guide_to_inspections.pdf |access-date=27 November 2022 |website=Workplace Relations Commission}} The WRC advises the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment about the application of, and compliance with, relevant employment legislation.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.workplacerelations.ie/en/ Workplace Relations Commission]
Category:Government agencies of the Republic of Ireland
{{authority control}}
Category:Government agencies established in 2015