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Labour Court to Conduct an Examination into Terms and Conditions of Employment in the Construction Sector

Section 14 Request - Construction Sector

Update 22nd December 2021

The Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English T.D. has signed Statutory Instrument Number 598/2021 which sets new minimum rates of pay for workers in the construction sector from 1 February 2022. Statutory Instrument 598/2021 amends Statutory Instrument Number 234 of 2019  and both statutory instruments should be read together.

The amended SEO applies to all construction firms as defined in Statutory instrument Number 234/2019 and makes it compulsory for such firms to pay construction workers the new rates of pay provided in the amended order from February 2022 and make revised pension and sick pay contributions for the categories of workers as defined.

The amended SEO also contains a dispute resolution procedure to be utilised in the event of an industrial dispute between workers and employers to whom the SEO applies.

Minister English signs Statutory Instrument to give legal effect for Labour Court recommendation on new pay rates in the construction sector

S.I. No. 598/2021 - Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2021

S.I. No. 234/2019 - Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2019

Report to the Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Update 10th August 2021

Notification of a public hearing on 2nd September 2021 at 9.30 am following a request to the Court to examine terms and conditions relating to remuneration, and any sick pay or pension scheme of workers in the Construction Sector.

The Labour Court received a request to Conduct an Examination into Terms and Conditions relating to remuneration, and any sick pay or pension scheme of workers in the Construction Sector.

Consideration of documentation by the Court

In accordance with Section 15(1) the Court considered the documentation furnished by the requesters and, having satisfied itself on the documentation that relevant statutory considerations had been complied with, determined that a notice of its intention to conduct an examination be published.

Publication of Section 15(2) notification

On the 29th June 2021 the Labour Court gave notice of its intention to conduct an examination of the terms and conditions relating to the remuneration and any sick pay scheme or pension scheme in respect of the Construction Sector by way of publication of a notice in

  • The Irish Times
  • The Irish Independent
  • The Irish Examiner
  • Seachtain
  • Iris Oifiguil

Interested parties wishing to make representations in relation to the examination were, in accordance with the statute, required to do so on or before 27 July 2021. 

The Court received representations from the following organisations by the closing date and time specified:

  • Construction Industry Federation
  • Irish Congress Trade Unions
  • Construction Worker’s Pension Scheme

These submissions can be found below.

Notification of a hearing in public

Pursuant to section 15(4) of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015 the Court will now hold a hearing in public on Thursday the 2nd September 2021 beginning at 9.30 a.m.

The Court, at that hearing, will hear all parties appearing to the Court to be interested and desiring to be heard. Noting that the Court is statutorily permitted to receive only those submissions made within the timeframe set down by the Court in accordance with the statute; the Court has decided that the three parties who made submissions by 5.00pm on 27th July 2021 are the only parties appearing to the Court to be interested and desiring to be heard.

The hearing in public will be in a virtual courtroom. Members of the public who wish the access the hearing in a virtual court room should contact Elaine.McNeela@labourcourt.ie for relevant technical details.

Section 14 request: 

21-05-31 Application from ICTU

The following submissions were received into the Labour Court on or before Tuesday 27 July 2021:

Construction Industry Federation Cover Letter

Construction Industry Federation Submission

Construction Workers Pension Scheme - Submission

Irish Congress of Trade Union Submission