Ireland’s employment rights legislation is monitored and enforced by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC is Ireland’s independent, statutory body for workplace relations services which was established under the Workplace Relations Act 2015.
Core services include:
- the provision of mediation,
- conciliation,
- facilitation and advisory services,
- adjudication on equality and employment complaints and disputes,
- the monitoring of employment conditions to ensure the compliance and enforcement of employment rights legislation,
- the provision of information,
- the processing of employment agency and protection of young persons (employment) licences.
The Labour Court (which is not a court of law) operates as an industrial relations tribunal, hearing both sides in a case and then issuing a Recommendation (or Determination/Decision/Order, depending of the type of case) setting out its opinion on the dispute and the terms on which it should be settled. In addition, it provides an appeals mechanism against WRC Adjudication Officer decisions and determinations, establishes Joint Labour Committees, registers Joint Industrial Councils and investigates industrial relations disputes affecting the public interest.
