[Ireland] 47% of agricultural workplaces in breach of employment law

In Ireland, a new report has revealed that 47 per cent of agricultural workplaces were in breach of employment law in 2022 when the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) inspected them, Agriland reports.

The WRC annual report was published on May 9. It shows that out of a total of 49 agricultural employers inspected during 2022, 23 were in breach of employment law.

In addition, the commission reportedly stated that it had recovered a total of €14,416 in unpaid wages for employees in the sector as a result of its inspections.

The agriculture sector was defined in the WRC report to include forestry, fruit and vegetable farms and livestock farms including animals and poultry.

The commission said in its latest annual report that it “continues to be active in the meat sector”.

In relation to the meat processing sector specifically, there were a total of 23 employers inspected during 2022 – both announced and unannounced - with 18 (78 per cent) of the employers selected for inspection reportedly found to be in breach of employment law.

As a result of these inspections, €6,078 in outstanding wages was recovered for employees.

The figures reflect an increase from the WRC report for 2021, which showed 60 per cent of those inspected in the meat processing sector breached employment laws.

In 2022 five meat processing plants were inspected and no unpaid wages were recovered.

Exploitation

The WRC also reportedly participated in the 2022 EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) days of action.

During last year’s campaign, 172 inspections were carried out by the WRC during the campaign and 171 contraventions of legislation were detected.

Inspectors specifically carried out inspections throughout Ireland on employers operating within the agricultural sector.

A total of 28 unannounced inspections were undertaken overall with 17 contraventions of employment legislation detected.

The WRC annual report for 2022 states that 36 different sectors were inspected.

Nine out of the 18 (50 per cent) in the fishing sector, seven out of the two (29 per cent) in the veterinary and animal health sector, and four out of the four (100 per cent) in equine activities were found in breach of employment law.

On a broader scale, 636 of the 1,390 (46 per cent) activities in the food service were also reportedly in breach of employment law.

Source: Agriland

In Ireland, a new report has revealed that 47 per cent of agricultural workplaces were in breach of employment law in 2022 when the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) inspected them, Agriland reports.

The WRC annual report was published on May 9. It shows that out of a total of 49 agricultural employers inspected during 2022, 23 were in breach of employment law.

In addition, the commission reportedly stated that it had recovered a total of €14,416 in unpaid wages for employees in the sector as a result of its inspections.

The agriculture sector was defined in the WRC report to include forestry, fruit and vegetable farms and livestock farms including animals and poultry.

The commission said in its latest annual report that it “continues to be active in the meat sector”.

In relation to the meat processing sector specifically, there were a total of 23 employers inspected during 2022 – both announced and unannounced - with 18 (78 per cent) of the employers selected for inspection reportedly found to be in breach of employment law.

As a result of these inspections, €6,078 in outstanding wages was recovered for employees.

The figures reflect an increase from the WRC report for 2021, which showed 60 per cent of those inspected in the meat processing sector breached employment laws.

In 2022 five meat processing plants were inspected and no unpaid wages were recovered.

Exploitation

The WRC also reportedly participated in the 2022 EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats) days of action.

During last year’s campaign, 172 inspections were carried out by the WRC during the campaign and 171 contraventions of legislation were detected.

Inspectors specifically carried out inspections throughout Ireland on employers operating within the agricultural sector.

A total of 28 unannounced inspections were undertaken overall with 17 contraventions of employment legislation detected.

The WRC annual report for 2022 states that 36 different sectors were inspected.

Nine out of the 18 (50 per cent) in the fishing sector, seven out of the two (29 per cent) in the veterinary and animal health sector, and four out of the four (100 per cent) in equine activities were found in breach of employment law.

On a broader scale, 636 of the 1,390 (46 per cent) activities in the food service were also reportedly in breach of employment law.

Source: Agriland