On 1st October 2015 the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D., appointed as an Adjudication Officer of the Workplace Relations Commission. I am really looking forward to taking up this role in the coming months
Below please see some information about the Workplace Relations Commission, taken from a Press Release issued by the Dept of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in July 2014.
8th July 2014
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD today (Tuesday) secured Government approval for the Workplace Relations Bill 2014.
The law, when enacted, will replace the current five workplace relations bodies with two. The new system will provide a world-class service for employers and employees, while also delivering savings for the taxpayer.
It forms part of a broader reform programme within the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation which will see the total number of agencies under the responsibility of the Department reduced by 41 by end 2014.
The new workplace relations system will comprise two bodies – the Workplace Relations Commission which will deal with complaints at first instance, and the Labour Court which will deal with appeals.
The various responsibilities of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA), the Equality Tribunal, Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) and the Labour Court, which have built up over time, will be subsumed into the two new bodies.
Enactment of this legislation is targeted by the end of 2014, and will deliver much needed reform of the State’s workplace relations services and institutions. The Government’s decision to reform this area is recognition that the current system for resolving individual disputes related to the workplace is wasteful, both for the State and users of the system. The current system is confusing and frustrating for employers, employees and professionals representing them. It was for this reason that Minister Bruton commenced the root and branch reform of the State’s existing employment rights and industrial relations structures on coming to office in 2011.
The cost of running the workplace relations institutions will be cut by €2m (or 10%) when the project is completed. At the same time the number of staff assigned to the bodies will fall by 20% as efficiencies are generated following the mergers.
Commenting on the decision the Minister said: “Reform of the State’s employment rights and industrial relations bodies has two principal goals: to deliver a better service for employers and employees, and to deliver savings for the taxpayer, businesses and workers. To date we have made substantial progress in terms of delivering administrative reforms, including major reductions in waiting times and replacing 30 forms with one.
“The next step is to reform the structures, by merging five State bodies in this area into two. Delivering this requires the enactment of detailed legislation and I am delighted that today the Government have given approval of the text of the legislation which will give statutory effect to these reforms.
“I believe this project has been an exemplar of public service reform. Through the rationalisation of five public service bodies, and with the better use of technology and shared services, we will reduce the cost of running those bodies by 10%, we will reduce the number of staff working in these bodies by 20%. At the same time we will deliver a better service to the users of these services – employers and employees who wish to avoid or resolve disputes in the workplace or who are seeking to have employment rights enforced or adjudicated.
“I wish to thank all those who have contributed to the process so far, in particular those who have worked so hard to deliver the progress achieved, including officials of my Department, the Chief Officers and staff members of the five existing employment bodies.
“I look forward to the continued support and cooperation of all stakeholders as we develop a world class employment rights and industrial relations system that we can be proud of and that will serve future generations well”.