50+ Firm Consultation
Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT DIRECTIVE 2002/14/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 1 AND OF THE COUNCIL OF 11 MARCH 2002 BY PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR INFORMING AND CONSULTING EMPLOYEES IN UNDERTAKINGS, TO IMPLEMENT ARTICLE 3(2) OF COUNCIL DIRECTIVE NO. 2001/23/EC OF 12 MARCH 2001 2 ON THE APPROXIMATION OF THE LAWS OF THE MEMBER STATES RELATING TO THE SAFEGUARDING OF EMPLOYEES’ RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF TRANSFERS OF UNDERTAKINGS, BUSINESSES OR PARTS OF UNDERTAKINGS OR BUSINESSES AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS.
[9 th April, 2006]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
Annotations:
Modifications (not altering text):
Editorial Notes:
E1
Act included in definitions of “employment enactment” and “relevant enactment” (1.08.2015) by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 2 and sch. 1 part 2 item 13, S.I. No. 338 of 2015, with the following effects:
• Authorised officers or inspectors under employment enactments deemed to be appointed under Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 26(2) and subject to termination under s. 26(4).
• Powers of inspectors for purposes of relevant enactments defined in Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 27.
• Workplace Relations Commission, an inspector or an adjudication officer authorised to disclose employer’s registered number or employee’s PPSN to enable Labour Court to perform functions under relevant enactments by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015) s. 31(5).
• Power of Workplace Relations Commission and official body to disclose information to each other concerning the commission of offence under relevant enactment provided by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 32.
• Power of Workplace Relations Commission and contracting authority to disclose information to each other concerning the commission of offence under employment enactment/ relevant enactment provided by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 33.
• Powers of Minister to prosecute under relevant enactments transferred to Workplace Relations Commission and references construed by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 37.
• Functions of EAT to hear claims under employment enactments transferred to Workplace Relations Commission and references to EAT construed by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015) s. 66(1), (2), not commenced as of date of revision.
E2
Code of Practice to assist employers, employees and their representatives in implementing provisions of Act made (29.04.2008) by Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Information and Consultation) (Declaration) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 132 of 2008).
Interpretation.
1.— (1) In this Act—
F1 [ ‘ agency worker ’ means an agency worker to whom the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012 applies; ]
“appointed” means, in the absence of an election, appointed by the employees and the basis on which that appointment is made may, if the employees so determine, be such as is agreed by them with the employer;
“Commission” means the Labour Relations Commission;
“consultation” means the exchange of views and establishment of dialogue between either or both—
( a) one or more employees,
( b) the employees’ representative or representatives,
and the employer;
“contract of employment” means a contract of service or of apprenticeship whether express or implied, and if express, whether oral or in writing;
“Court” means the Labour Court;
“Directive” means Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community;
“employee” means a person who has entered into or works under a contract of employment and references, in relation to an employer, to an employee shall be read as references to an employee employed by that employer;
“employee threshold” has the meaning assigned by section 7 ;
“employees’ representative” has the meaning assigned by section 6 ;
“employer”, in relation to an employee, means the person by whom the employee is employed under a contract of employment;
“excepted body” has the meaning assigned by section 6(3) of the Trade Union Act 1941, as amended;
“expert” means an individual, and may be the holder from time to time of a named office or position in a body corporate or other body or organisation;
“information” means transmission by the employer to one or more employees or their representatives (or both) of data in order to enable them to acquaint themselves with the subject matter and to examine it and cognate words shall be read accordingly;
“Information and Consultation Forum” means a Forum established in accordance with Schedule 1 for the purpose of informing and consulting employees;
“Minister” means Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment;
“negotiated agreement” has the meaning assigned by section 8 ;
“pre-existing agreement” has the meaning assigned by section 9 ;
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister;
F1 [ ‘ relevant information ’ means information as respects —
( a ) the number of agency workers temporarily engaged to work for the employer,
( b ) those parts of the employer ’ s business in which those agency workers are, for the time being, working, and
( c ) the type of work that those agency workers are engaged to do; ]
“relevant workforce threshold” has the meaning assigned by section 4 ;
“trade union” means a trade union which holds a negotiation licence under Part II of the Trade Union Act 1941, as amended;
“undertaking” means a public or private undertaking carrying out an economic activity, whether or not operating for gain.
F1 [ (1A) For the purposes of this Act, an agency worker to whom the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012 applies shall, for the duration of the agency worker ’ s assignment with a hirer (within the meaning of that Act), be treated as being employed by the employment agency concerned, and accordingly references in this Act to contract of employment shall, as respects any such agency worker, be construed as including references to contract of employment within the meaning of that Act. ]
(2) A word or expression that is used in this Act and is also used in the Directive has the same meaning in this Act as it does in the Directive.
(3) For the avoidance of doubt, a reference in this Act—
( a) to the negotiation of an agreement establishing information and consultation arrangements or to such an agreement that has been negotiated, or
( b) to an Information and Consultation Forum,
includes a reference—
(i) to the negotiation of more than one such agreement or, as appropriate, to more than one such agreement that has been negotiated, or
(ii) to more than one such Forum.
(4) Subsection (3) is without prejudice to section 18( a) of the Interpretation Act 2005.
Annotations:
Amendments:
F1
Inserted (16.05.2012) by Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012 (13/2012), s. 19(a), commenced on enactment.
Regulations.
2.— (1) The Minister may make regulations prescribing any matter or thing referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed.
(2) Regulations under this section may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations or for giving full effect to this Act.
Annotations:
Editorial Notes:
E3
Power pursuant to section exercised (4.09.2006) by Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006 (Prescribed Dates) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 383 of 2006).
Right of employees to information and consultation.
3.— (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, an employee employed in an undertaking employing 50 or more employees has a right to information and consultation.
(2) This Act is without prejudice to—
( a) the information and consultation procedures under the Protection of Employment Act 1977, as amended by the Protection of Employment Order 1996 ( S.I. No. 370 of 1996), and the European Communities (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 488 of 2000),
( b) the information and consultation procedures under the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 131 of 2003),
( c) the information and consultation procedures under the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996 and the European Communities ( Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 ( S.I. No. 386 of 1999), and
( d) any right to information, consultation or participation conferred on employees by any other Act or instrument thereunder.
(3) For the avoidance of doubt, the according to employees of their rights through a European Employees’ Forum, an Information and Consultation procedure or a European Works Council established under the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996 or by an agreement under section 6 of that Act, is not sufficient compliance by the employer with this Act.
Application — workforce thresholds.
4.— (1) This Act applies—
( a) from a date to be prescribed (being a date before 23 March 2007) to undertakings with at least 150 employees,
( b) from 23 March 2007 to undertakings with at least 100 employees, and
( c) from 23 March 2008 to undertakings with at least 50 employees.
(2) The number of employees referred to in subsection (1) is referred to in this Act as a “relevant workforce threshold”.
Annotations:
Editorial Notes:
E4
Date prescribed for purposes of subs. (1)(a) (4.09.2006) by Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006 (Prescribed Dates) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 383 of 2006)
2. The 4th day of September 2006 is prescribed for the purposes of sections 4(1)(a) and 9(1)(a) of the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006 (No. 9 of 2006).
Calculating workforce thresholds.
5.— (1) In determining whether employees are employed in an undertaking that meets a relevant workforce threshold, the number of employees in the undertaking shall be reckoned by calculating the average number of employees employed in the undertaking during the 2 years before the date that a request is—
( a) made under subsection (2),
( b) received under subsection (4) by the Court or a nominee of the Court, or
( c) received under section 7 by the employer, the Court or a nominee of the Court.
(2) Without prejudice to subsection (4), following a request from one or more employees or employees’ representatives (or both), the employer shall provide details of the number of employees in the undertaking during the period referred to in subsection (1) to those employees or employees’ representatives (or both) not later than 4 weeks from the date of receipt of that request (but that period of 4 weeks may be extended by agreement between the parties).
(3) If the undertaking has been in existence for less than 2 years, the period of 2 years referred to in subsection (1) shall be replaced by the period the undertaking has been in existence.
(4) One or more employees may request the Court or a nominee of the Court to make the request referred to in subsection (5) of the employer and to do the other things mentioned therein.
(5) Where a request under subsection (4) is received by the Court or a nominee of the Court, the Court or the nominee shall—
( a) notify the employer as soon as is reasonably practicable that a request under that subsection has been made,
( b) request from the employer details of the numbers of employees in the undertaking during the period referred to in subsection (1), and
( c) issue a written notification to the employee or employees who made the request under subsection (4) confirming the number of employees in the undertaking during the period concerned.
(6) Where the Court or its nominee requests information from the employer under subsection (5)(b), the employer shall provide the information requested not later than 4 weeks from the date of receipt of that request (but that period of 4 weeks may be extended by agreement between the employer and the Court or its nominee).
(7) If the number of employees for the time being in an undertaking falls below the relevant workforce threshold and remains below the threshold for 12 months, then, at the request of the employer or a majority of the employees, the Information and Consultation Forum established under section 10 shall stand dissolved unless both parties agree to its continuation.
Employees’ representative.
6.— (1) In this Act, “employees’ representative” means an employee elected or appointed for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the employer shall arrange for the election or appointment of one or more than one employees’ representative under this section.
(3) Without prejudice to section 11 , where it is the practice of the employer to conduct collective bargaining negotiations with a trade union or excepted body, employees who are members of a trade union or excepted body that represents 10 per cent or more of the employees in the undertaking shall be entitled to elect or appoint from amongst their members one or more than one employees’ representative for the purposes of this Act.
(4) The number of employees’ representatives (if any) elected or appointed under subsection (3) shall be determined on a pro rata basis by reference to the number of other employees’ representatives (if any) elected or appointed under this section.
(5) Where a dispute arises under this section, it may be referred by the employer, trade union, excepted body or one or more than one employee to the Labour Court for determination in accordance with the procedures set out in subsections (6), (7), (9) and (10) of section 15 .
Process for establishing information and consultation arrangements.
7.— (1) Subject to subsection (2) and section 9 , the employer—
( a) may at his or her own initiative, or
( b) shall at the written request of at least 10 per cent of employees received either by him or her on the one hand, or by the Court or a nominee of the Court on the other hand,
enter into negotiations with employees or their representatives (or both) to establish information and consultation arrangements.
(2) The minimum requirement of 10 per cent of employees of the undertaking provided for in subsection (1)(b) shall be construed as meaning the lesser of—
( a) 10 per cent of the employees in the undertaking concerned (but not less, in any case, than 15 employees), or
( b) 100 employees,
(to be known and in this Act referred to as the “employee threshold”).
(3) Where a request is received by the Court or a nominee of the Court under subsection (1)(b), the Court or the nominee shall—
( a) notify the employer as soon as is reasonably practicable that the request has been made,
( b) request from the employer the information that it or its nominee requires to verify the number and names of the employees who have made the request, and
( c) issue a written notification to the employer and the employees who have made the request confirming how many employees have made the request and whether the employee threshold has been met on the basis of the information provided by the employees and the employer.
(4) Where the Court or its nominee requests information from the employer under subsection (3)(b), the employer shall provide the information requested as soon as is reasonably practicable.
(5) Where a notification under subsection (3)(c) confirms that the request meets the employee threshold, the date of receipt of the notification by the employer shall be taken to be the date on which the employer received the request.
(6) Within 6 months from commencing negotiations, the parties shall agree to establish an information and consultation arrangement by means of—
( a) a negotiated agreement under section 8 , or
( b) the Standard Rules under section 10 (as set out in Schedule 1 ).
(7) The period of 6 months referred to in subsection (6) may be extended by agreement of the parties.
(8) If, at the time of making a request under subsection (1)(b), the employee threshold is not met, the employees of the undertaking shall not make a further request for negotiations until 2 years have passed from the date on which the initial or previous request was received by the employer or the date of receipt of notification by the employer under subsection (3)(c).
Negotiated agreements.
8.— (1) An agreement establishing one or more information and consultation arrangements may be negotiated by the employer and the employees or their representatives (or both) (to be known and in this Act referred to as a “negotiated agreement”).
(2) A negotiated agreement shall be—
( a) in writing and dated,
( b) signed by the employer,
( c) approved by the employees,
( d) applicable to all employees to whom the agreement relates, and
( e) available for inspection by those persons and at the place agreed between the parties.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), the agreement shall be regarded as having been approved by the employees—
( a) where a majority of those employees employed in the undertaking who cast a preference do so in favour of the terms of the agreement,
( b) where a majority of employee representatives, elected or appointed for the purposes of negotiations under this Act, approve the agreement in writing, or
( c) where the result of employing any other procedure agreed to by the parties for determining whether the agreement has been so approved discloses that it has been so approved.
(4) The employer shall ensure that the procedure for the casting of a preference referred to in subsection (3)(a) is confidential and capable of independent verification and of being used by all employees.
(5) A negotiated agreement shall include reference to the following matters:
( a) the duration of the agreement and the procedure, if any, for its renegotiation;
( b) the subjects for information F2 [ (including relevant information) ] and consultation;
( c) the method and timeframe by which information is to be provided, including as to whether it is to be provided directly to employees or through one or more employees’ representatives;
( d) the method and timeframe by which consultation is to be conducted, including as to whether it is to be conducted directly with employees or through one or more employees’ representatives; and
( e) the procedure for dealing with confidential information.
(6) At any time before a negotiated agreement expires or within 6 months after its expiry, the parties to the agreement may renew it for any further period they think fit.
(7) A negotiated agreement renewed under subsection (6) within the period of 6 months referred to in that subsection shall be deemed to have remained in force from the date it would otherwise have expired.
Annotations:
Amendments:
F2
Inserted (16.05.2012) by Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012 (13/2012), s. 19(b), commenced on enactment.
Pre-existing agreements.
9.— (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, where an agreement (to be known and in this Act referred to as a “pre-existing agreement”) exists within—
( a) an undertaking referred to in section 4(1)(a) , on or before a date to be prescribed (being a date before 23 March 2007),
( b) an undertaking referred to in section 4(1)(b) , on or before 23 March 2007, or
( c) an undertaking referred to in section 4(1)(c) , on or before 23 March 2008,
and that pre-existing agreement satisfies the requirements of this section, the employer is not obliged to comply with a request under section 7 .
(2) A pre-existing agreement shall be—
( a) in writing and dated,
( b) signed by the employer,
( c) approved by the employees,
( d) applicable to all employees to whom the agreement relates, and
( e) available for inspection by those persons and at the location agreed by the parties.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), a pre-existing agreement shall be regarded as having been approved by the employees—
( a) where a majority of those employees employed in the undertaking who cast a preference do so in favour of the terms of the agreement, or
( b) where the result of employing any other procedure agreed to by the parties for determining whether the agreement has been so approved discloses that it has been so approved.
(4) The employer shall ensure that the procedure referred to in subsection (3)(a) is confidential and capable of independent verification and of being used by all employees.
(5) A pre-existing agreement shall be presumed to be valid unless proved to the contrary, and shall remain in force—
( a) for the period, if any, specified in the agreement or the agreement as renewed,
( b) in the case of an open ended agreement, until it is brought to an end in accordance with its terms, or
( c) until it is brought to an end by agreement of the parties.
(6) Where a pre-existing agreement is not in force for 6 months, section 7 shall apply.
(7) A pre-existing agreement shall include reference to the following matters—
( a) the duration of the agreement and the procedure, if any, for its review,
( b) the subjects for information and consultation,
( c) the method by which information is to be provided, including as to whether it is to be provided directly to employees or through one or more employees’ representatives, and
( d) the method by which consultation is to be conducted, including as to whether it is to be conducted directly with employees or through one or more employees’ representatives.
Annotations:
Editorial Notes:
E5
Date prescribed for purposes of subs. (1)(a) (4.09.2006) by Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006 (Prescribed Dates) Regulations 2006 , S.I. No. 383 of 2006.
2. The 4th day of September 2006 is prescribed for the purposes of sections 4(1)(a) and 9(1)(a) of the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006 (No. 9 of 2006).
Standard rules on information and consultation.
10.— (1) Where—
( a) the parties agree to adopt the Standard Rules set out in Schedule 1 and the procedures for the election of employees’ representatives set out in Schedule 2 ,
( b) the employer refuses to enter into negotiations within 3 months of receiving the written request from employees as provided for under section 7(1) or of the date of receipt of notification by the employer under section 7(3)(c) , or
( c) the parties to the negotiations cannot agree to the establishment of an information and consultation arrangement within the time limit specified in section 7(6) and section 7(7) ,
the Standard Rules shall apply to the undertaking and an Information and Consultation Forum shall be established.
(2) Subject to section 14(4) and (5), where the Standard Rules apply to an undertaking, the employer shall as soon as practicable, but not later than 6 months after they first become applicable, comply with the requirements of the Standard Rules.
(3) After a minimum initial period of 2 years from the establishment of the Information and Consultation Forum and thereafter on a basis agreed by both parties, the application of the Standard Rules to an undertaking may be reviewed by the Information and Consultation Forum and the employer, and both parties may enter into negotiations for the purpose of changing the rules or procedures for that Forum and may change those rules or procedures accordingly.
(4) If the terms of a negotiated agreement are not approved in accordance with section 8(3) , the Standard Rules shall not apply until 2 years have passed.
(5) Where, during the period of 2 years referred to in subsection (4), the parties seeking to approve a negotiated agreement re-enter negotiations and approve a negotiated agreement the Standard Rules shall not apply.
Direct involvement.
11.— (1) In relation to sections 8 and 9 , an employee may exercise his or her right to information and consultation under section 3 either directly or by means of his or her representatives elected or appointed for that purpose.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) and where a system of direct involvement is in operation for the whole or part only of the undertaking concerned, in order to be represented by his or her representatives at least 10 per cent of employees for whom the direct involvement system operates are required to make a written request to the employer, the Court or a nominee of the Court seeking to exercise the right to information and consultation through employees’ representatives.
(3) The minimum requirement of 10 per cent of employees of the undertaking provided for in subsection (2) is subject to the approval of the majority of employees to whom the direct involvement system applies.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), a request to change from a system of direct involvement to a system of representation through employees’ representatives shall be regarded as having been approved by the employees for whom the direct involvement system operates where a majority of those employees who cast a preference are in favour of the change.
(5) The employer shall ensure that the procedure for the casting of a preference referred to in subsection (4) is confidential and capable of independent verification and of being used by all employees.
(6) On receipt of a request under subsection (2) which is approved under subsection (3), an employer shall arrange for the election or appointment of representatives by the employees.
Co-operation.
12.— When defining or implementing practical arrangements for information and consultation under this Act, the employer and one or more employees or his or her representatives (or both) shall work in a spirit of co-operation, having due regard to their reciprocal rights and duties, and taking into account the interests both of the undertaking and of the employees.
Protection of employees’ representatives.
13.— (1) An employer shall not penalise the employees’ representative for performing his or her functions in accordance with this Act.
(2) For the purposes of this section, an employees’ representative is penalised if he or she—
( a) is dismissed or suffers any unfavourable change to his or her conditions of employment or any unfair treatment (including selection for redundancy), or
( b) is the subject of any other action prejudicial to his or her employment.
(3) Subject to subsection (5), the employees’ representative shall be afforded any reasonable facilities, including time off, that will enable him or her to perform his or her functions as employees’ representative promptly and efficiently.
(4) An employees’ representative shall be paid his or her wages (within the meaning of the Payment of Wages Act 1991) for any period of absence afforded to him or her in accordance with subsection (3).
(5) The granting of facilities under subsection (3) shall have regard to the needs, size and capabilities of the undertaking concerned and shall not impair the efficient operation of the undertaking.
(6) Schedule 3 has effect in relation to an alleged contravention of subsection (1).
(7) If a penalisation of an employees’ representative, in contravention of subsection (1), constitutes a dismissal of the representative within the meaning of the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1977 to 2005, relief may not be granted to the representative in respect of that penalisation both under Schedule 3 and under those Acts.
Annotations:
Editorial Notes:
E6
Redress and appeal procedures in respect of section provided (1.10.2015) by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), ss. 41, 44 and sch. 5 part 1 item 17, sch. 6 part 1 item 22, sch. 6 part 2 item 22, S.I. No. 410 of 2015.
Confidential information.
14.— (1) Subject to subsections (4) and (5) an individual who at any time is or was—
( a) a member of an Information and Consultation Forum,
( b) an employees’ representative who is party to an information and consultation arrangement,
( c) an employee participant in an information and consultation arrangement, or
( d) an expert providing assistance,
shall not disclose to employees or to third parties any information which, in the legitimate interest of the undertaking, has been expressly provided to him or her by the undertaking in confidence.
(2) The duty of confidentiality imposed by subsection (1) shall continue to apply after the cessation of the employment of the individual concerned or the expiry of his or her term of office.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the individual concerned may disclose information which has been expressly provided to him or her in confidence to employees and to third parties where those employees or third parties are subject to a duty of confidentiality under this Act.
(4) An employer may refuse to communicate information or undertake consultation where the nature of that information or consultation is such that, by reference to objective criteria, it would—
( a) seriously harm the functioning of the undertaking, or
( b) be prejudicial to the undertaking.
(5) An employer shall refuse to disclose information where disclosure of the information concerned is prohibited by any enactment.
(6) The Court or any member of the Court or the registrar or any officer or servant of the Court, including any person or persons appointed by the Court as an expert or mediator, shall not disclose any information obtained by it in confidence in the course of any proceedings before it under this Act.
Dispute resolution.
15.— (1) Disputes between an employer and one or more employees or his or her representatives (or both) concerning:
( a) negotiations under section 8 or 10 ,
( b) interpretation or operation of any agreement under section 8 or 9 ,
( c) interpretation or operation of the Standard Rules under section 10 (as set out in Schedule 1 ) or the procedures for election of employees’ representatives (as set out in Schedule 2 ), or
( d) interpretation or operation of a system of direct involvement under section 11 ,
may, subject to subsection (2), be referred by the employer, one or more than one employee or his or her representatives (or both) to the Court for investigation.
(2) Such a dispute may be referred to the Court only after—
( a) recourse to the internal dispute resolution procedure (if any) in place in the employment concerned has failed to resolve the dispute, and
( b) the dispute has been referred to the Commission which, having made available such of its services as are appropriate for the purpose of resolving the dispute, furnishes a certificate to the Court stating that the Commission is satisfied that no further efforts on its part will advance the resolution of the dispute.
(3) Having investigated a dispute under subsection (1), the Court may make a recommendation in writing giving its opinion in the matter.
(4) Where, in the opinion of the Court, a dispute that is the subject of a recommendation under subsection (3) has not been resolved, the Court may, at the request of—
( a) an employer, or
( b) one or more employees or their representatives (or both),
and, following a review of all relevant matters, make a determination in writing.
(5) Disputes between an employer and one or more than one employee or his or her representatives (or both) concerning—
( a) instances where the employer refuses to communicate information or undertake consultation under section 14(4) or (5),
( b) instances where the employer discloses information to an individual to whom section 14(1) applies subject to the condition that the information is not to be disclosed to a third party due to its confidential nature, or
( c) instances where an individual to whom section 14(1) applies discloses information, which in the legitimate interest of the undertaking has been expressly provided to him or her in confidence, to employees or to third parties not subject to a duty of confidentiality,
may be referred by the employer, one or more employees or his or her representatives (or both) to the Court for determination.
(6) As regards a dispute referred to it under subsection (1) or (5), the Court shall—
( a) give the parties an opportunity to be heard by it and to present any evidence relevant to the dispute,
( b) make a recommendation or, as the case may be, determination in writing in relation to the dispute, and
( c) communicate the recommendation or, as the case may be, determination to the parties.
(7) The following matters or procedures to be followed in relation to them, shall be determined by the Court, namely:
( a) the procedure in relation to all matters concerning the initiation and hearing by the Court of a dispute under this section;
( b) the times and places of hearings of such disputes;
( c) the publication and notification of recommendations and determinations of the Court;
( d) any matters consequential on, or incidental to, the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c).
(8) In deciding what constitutes confidential information, the Court may be assisted by a panel of experts.
(9) A party to a dispute under this section may appeal from a determination of the Court to the High Court on a point of law and the decision of the High Court shall be final and conclusive.
(10) The Court may refer a question of law arising in proceedings before it under this section to the High Court for determination and the decision of the High Court shall be final and conclusive.
Power of Court to administer oaths and compel witnesses.
16.— (1) The Court shall, on the hearing of a dispute referred to it for recommendation or determination under section 6 or section 15 or on the hearing of an appeal under Schedule 3 , have power to take evidence on oath and for that purpose may cause to be administered oaths to persons attending as witnesses at that hearing.
(2) Any person who, upon examination on oath authorised by this section, wilfully makes any statement which is material for that purpose and which he or she knows to be false or does not believe to be true is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both.
(3) The Court may, by giving notice in that behalf in writing to any person, require that person to attend at such time and place as is specified in the notice to give evidence in relation to a dispute referred to the Court for recommendation or determination under section 6 or section 15 or an appeal under Schedule 3 or to produce any documents in his or her possession, custody or control which relate to any such matter.
(4) A notice under subsection (3) may be given either by delivering it to the person to whom it relates or by sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter addressed to that person at the address at which he or she ordinarily resides or, in the case of the employer, at the address at which the employer concerned ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.
(5) A person to whom a notice under subsection (3) has been given and who refuses or wilfully neglects to attend in accordance with the notice or who, having so attended, refuses to give evidence or refuses or wilfully fails to produce any document to which the notice relates is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €3,000.
(6) A witness in a hearing of a dispute or appeal before the Court has the same privileges and immunities as a witness before the High Court.
Enforcement.
17.— (1) If—
( a) a party to a Court determination fails to carry out in accordance with its terms a determination of the Court in relation to a dispute under section 6 or 15 , or
( b) a party to a complaint under Schedule 3 fails to carry out in accordance with its terms a decision of a rights commissioner or a determination of the Court under that Schedule in relation to the complaint,
within the period specified in the determination or decision or if no such period is so specified within 6 weeks from the date on which the determination or decision is communicated to the parties, the Circuit Court shall, on application to it in that behalf by one or more of the parties to the dispute or complaint, without hearing any evidence (other than in relation to the matters aforesaid) make an order directing the party concerned to carry out the determination or decision in accordance with its terms.
(2) The reference in subsection (1) to a determination of the Court or a decision of a rights commissioner is a reference to such a determination or decision in relation to which, at the end of the time for bringing an appeal against it, no such appeal has been brought or, if such an appeal has been brought it has been abandoned and the references to the date on which the determination or decision is communicated to the parties shall, in a case where such an appeal is abandoned, be read as references to the date of that abandonment.
(3) In an order under this section providing for the payment of compensation of the kind referred to in paragraph 1(3)(c) of Schedule 3 , the Circuit Court may, if in all the circumstances it considers it appropriate to do so, direct the employer concerned to pay to the employee concerned interest on the compensation at the rate referred to in section 22 of the Courts Act 1981, in respect of the whole or any part of the period beginning 6 weeks after the date on which the determination of the Court or the decision of the rights commissioner is communicated to the parties and ending on the date of the order.
(4) An application under this section to the Circuit Court shall be made to the judge of the Circuit Court for the circuit in which the employer concerned ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation.
Inspectors.
18.— (1) In this section “inspector” means a person appointed under subsection (2).
(2) The Minister may, in writing, appoint as many persons as the Minister thinks appropriate to be inspectors for the purposes of this Act.
(3) Subject to this section, an inspector may do all or any of the following things for the purposes of this Act—
( a) enter at all reasonable times any premises or place where the inspector believes on reasonable grounds that—
(i) an employee is employed in work, or
(ii) the work that an employee is employed to do is directed or controlled,
( b) make such examination or enquiry as may be necessary for ascertaining whether this Act is being complied with in respect of an employee employed in those premises or that place or an employee whose work is directed or controlled from the premises or place,
( c) require the employer of an employee, or the representative of the employer, to produce to the inspector any records the employer is required to keep under any other enactment that are relevant to the employer’s obligations under this Act and inspect and take copies of entries in the records (including, in the case of information in a non-legible form, a copy of or an extract from that information in a more permanent legible form),
( d) require any person the inspector believes on reasonable grounds to be or to have been an employee or the employer of an employee to furnish such information to the inspector as the inspector may reasonably request,
( e) examine with regard to any matters under this Act any person the inspector has reasonable cause to believe to be or to have been an employer or employee and require the person to answer such questions (other than questions tending to incriminate the person) as the inspector may put relative to those matters and to sign a declaration of the truth of the answers.
(4) An inspector shall not, except with the consent of the occupier, enter a private dwelling (other than a part of the dwelling used as a place of work) unless he or she has obtained a warrant from the District Court under subsection (7) authorising the entry.
(5) Where an inspector in attempting to exercise his or her powers under this section is prevented from entering any premises, he or she may apply under subsection (7) for a warrant authorising the entry.
(6) An inspector, where he or she considers it necessary to be so accompanied, may be accompanied by a member of the Garda Síochána when exercising a power conferred on an inspector under this section.
(7) If a judge of the District Court is satisfied on the sworn information of an inspector that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that information required by an inspector under this section is held on any premises or any part of the premises, the judge may issue a warrant authorising an inspector accompanied by other inspectors or a member of the Garda Síochána, at any time or times within one month from the date of issue of the warrant, on production, if so requested, of the warrant, to enter the premises (if need be by the use of reasonable force) and exercise all or any of the powers conferred on an inspector under subsection (3).
(8) A person who—
( a) obstructs or impedes an inspector in the exercise of any of the powers conferred on an inspector under this section,
( b) refuses to produce a record which an inspector lawfully requires the person to produce,
( c) produces or causes to be produced, or knowingly allows to be produced, to an inspector a record which is false or misleading in a material respect, knowing it to be so false or misleading,
( d) gives to an inspector information which is false or misleading in a material respect knowing it to be so false or misleading, or
( e) fails or refuses to comply with a lawful requirement of an inspector under subsection (3),
is guilty of an offence.
(9) Every inspector shall be furnished by the Minister with a certificate of his or her appointment and, on applying for admission to any premises or place for the purposes of this Act, shall, if requested by a person affected, produce the certificate or a copy of the certificate to that person.
Offences.
19.— (1) A person who fails to comply with section 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 or 13 is guilty of an offence.
(2) It is an offence for an employer to refuse to provide the information referred to in section 5 or to unreasonably or wilfully obstruct or delay the provision of such information.
(3) It is an offence for an employer to fail to arrange for the election or appointment of one or more than one employees’ representative under section 6(2) .
(4) It is an offence for an employer to fail to put in place a system of representation through employees’ representatives where one has been requested and approved by employees under section 11 .
(5) It is an offence for an individual to whom section 14(1) applies to disclose information to employees or third parties not subject to a duty of confidentiality under this Act where that information is expressly provided in confidence to the individual concerned.
Penalties.
20.— (1) A person guilty of an offence under section 18 or 19 shall be liable—
( a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both, or
( b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €30,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both.
(2) If the offence under section 18 or 19 of which a person was convicted is continued after conviction, that person shall be guilty of a further offence on every day on which the act or omission constituting the offence continues, and for each such further offence the person shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €500 or on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding €5,000.
(3) Proceedings for an offence under section 18 or 19 may be brought and prosecuted by the Minister.
Notification obligations to transferee in transfer of an undertaking.
21.— (1) For the purposes of this section—
“Council Directive” means Council Directive No. 2001/23/EC of 12 March 2001 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees’ rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of undertakings or businesses;
“Regulations” means the European Communities (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 131 of 2003);
“transfer” means the transfer of an economic entity that retains its identity;
“transferee” means any natural or legal person who, by reason of a transfer within the meaning of the Regulations, becomes the employer in respect of the undertaking, business or part of the undertaking or business;
“transferor” means any natural or legal person who, by reason of a transfer within the meaning of the Regulations, ceases to be the employer in respect of the undertaking, business or part of the undertaking or business.
(2) A word or expression that is used in this section, and which is also used in the Council Directive or the Regulations, as appropriate, has the same meaning in this section as it has in the Council Directive or the Regulations, as appropriate.
(3) The transferor shall notify the transferee of all the rights and obligations, arising from a contract of employment existing on the date of a transfer, which will be transferred to the transferee, so far as those rights and obligations are, or ought to have been, known to the transferor at the time of transfer.
(4) A failure by the transferor to notify the transferee of any such right or obligation shall not affect the transfer of that right or obligation and the rights of any employees against the transferee or transferor in respect of that right or obligation.
(5) If—
( a) a failure of the foregoing kind consists of a failure to provide information or documents to the transferee the provision of which is necessary in order for the transferee to fulfil an obligation of the transferee owed to an employee,
( b) the transferee is, in proceedings finally determined under the Regulations, required by a decision of a rights commissioner or a determination of the Employment Appeals Tribunal to pay an amount of compensation to that employee in respect of a complaint that the transferee has not fulfilled that obligation, and
( c) the transferee has paid that amount of compensation to that employee,
then, subject to subsection (6), the transferee has a right of action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover from the transferor such proportion of that amount of compensation as the court determines to be attributable to the failure of the transferor to provide the information or documents concerned.
(6) An action under subsection (5) shall not lie unless it has been preceded by—
( a) service of a notice in writing on the transferor—
(i) indicating, in everyday language—
(I) the particular obligation the transferee considers he or she owes to one or more employees of the transferee, and
(II) the class of information or documents that the transferee believes may be in the possession or under the control of the transferor (and which is not also in the possession or under the control of any of the employees of the transferee), being information or documents of a class which the transferee considers an employer must possess in order to fulfil the obligation concerned,
and
(ii) requesting the transferor to provide to the transferee, within a specified period (not being less than 21 days beginning on the date of the service of the notice), information or documents falling within that class of information or documents,
and
( b) compliance by the transferee with any reasonable request in writing of the transferor for further details to be furnished to the transferor as to the particular items of information or documents that are being referred to in that notice (and any period which elapses before that request is complied with shall not be reckoned in calculating the period specified in that notice).
(7) An action under subsection (5) shall, for the purposes of this section and any other enactment, be regarded as an action founded on quasi-contract.
Annotations:
Modifications (not altering text):
C1
Prospective affecting provision: functions transferred and Employment Appeals Tribunal construed by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 66, not commenced as of date of revision.
Transfer of functions from Employment Appeals Tribunal
66.(1) (a) All functions that, immediately before the dissolution day, were vested in the Employment Appeals Tribunal are transferred to the Commission in so far as they relate to any claim for redress, dispute or complaint determined by the Employment Appeals Tribunal under an employment enactment before that day.
(b) All functions that, immediately before the dissolution day, were vested in the Employment Appeals Tribunal are transferred to the Labour Court in so far as they relate to appeals determined by the Employment Appeals Tribunal under an employment enactment before that day.
(2) (a) References in any enactment or instrument under an enactment to the Employment Appeals Tribunal in so far as they relate to a function transferred by paragraph (a) of subsection (1) shall be construed as references to the Commission.
(b) References in any enactment or instrument under an enactment to the Employment Appeals Tribunal in so far as they relate to a function transferred by paragraph (b) of subsection (1) shall be construed as references to the Labour Court.
(3) This section shall come into operation on the dissolution day.
Short title and commencement.
22.— (1) This Act may be cited as the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006.
(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.
Annotations:
Editorial Notes:
E7
Power pursuant to section exercised (24.07.2006) by Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006 (Commencement) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 382 of 2006).
2. The 24th day of July 2006 is appointed as the day on which the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act (No. 9 of 2006) comes into operation.
SCHEDULE 1
Standard Rules on Information and Consultation
Section 10 .
Size and structure of Forum.
1. (1) The Information and Consultation Forum (in this Schedule referred to as the “Forum”) shall be composed of employees’ representatives who shall be employees of the undertaking.
(2) Employees’ representatives shall be elected in accordance with Schedule 2 . In the absence of elections, the representatives shall be appointed by the employees and the basis on which any such appointment is made may, if the employees so determine, be such as is agreed by them with the employer.
(3) The employer shall arrange for the election process referred to in subparagraph (2).
(4) The Forum shall have at least 3 but not more than 30 members and may agree its own internal structures.
Rules of Procedure.
2. (1) The Forum shall adopt its own rules of procedure subject to the following:
( a) the arrangements for the meetings of the Forum shall be agreed by the employer in consultation with employees or their representatives but the employer may not unreasonably withhold consent to proposals made by employees or their representatives;
( b) the minutes of the Forum meetings with the employer shall be approved by both the employer and employees’ representatives;
( c) before any meeting with the employer, the Forum shall be entitled to meet without the employer concerned being present;
( d) without prejudice to section 14(1) , (2) and (3), the members of the Forum shall inform the employees of the content and outcome of the meetings of the Forum carried out in accordance with this Schedule;
( e) the Forum shall have the right to meet with the employer twice a year. Where there are exceptional circumstances, the Forum shall have the right to request a meeting with the employer and consent to this meeting shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Competence.
3. For the purposes of these Rules, “information and consultation” includes:
( a) information on the recent and probable development of the undertaking’s activities and economic situation;
( b) information and consultation on the situation, structure and probable development of employment within the undertaking and on any anticipatory measures envisaged, in particular where there is a threat to employment;
( c) information and consultation on decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation or in contractual relations, including those covered by the European (Protection of Employees on Transfer of Undertakings) Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 131 of 2003) and the Protection of Employment Act 1977 (as amended by the Protection of Employment Order 1996 ( S.I. No. 370 of 1996) and the European Communities (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2000 ( S.I. No. 488 of 2000)).
Practical arrangements for Information and Consultation.
4. (1) Information shall be given by the employer at the time, in the fashion and with the content appropriate to enable, in particular, the Forum to conduct an adequate study and, where necessary, prepare for consultation.
(2) Consultation shall take place:
( a) while ensuring that the method, content and timeframe thereof are appropriate;
( b) at the relevant level of management and representation, depending on the subject under discussion;
( c) on the basis of information supplied by the employer and of the opinion which the employees’ representatives are entitled to formulate;
( d) in such a way as to enable the Forum to meet the employer and obtain a response, and the reasons for that response, to any opinion they might form;
( e) with a view to reaching an agreement on decisions referred to in paragraph 3(c) that are within the scope of the employer’s powers.
Expenses.
5. (1) The expenses incurred in the operation of the Forum shall be borne by the employer.
(2) The employer shall provide the members of the Forum with any financial resources that are necessary and reasonable to enable them to perform their duties in an appropriate manner.
SCHEDULE 2
Election of Employees’ Representatives
Section 10 .
1. An employee who is employed in the State by the relevant undertaking on the day the date or dates for an election of members of the Information and Consultation Forum (in this Schedule referred to as the “Forum”) is fixed and who is, on the election day or days, an employee of the undertaking, shall be entitled to vote in such an election.
2. An employee who is employed in the State by the undertaking for a continuous period of not less than one year on the nomination day shall be eligible to stand as a candidate for election as a member of the Forum, provided that he or she is nominated by—
( a) at least 2 employees, or
( b) a trade union or excepted body with whom it is the practice of the employer to conduct collective bargaining negotiations.
3. Where the number of candidates on the nomination day exceeds the number of members to be elected to the Forum, a poll shall be taken by the returning officer and voting in the poll shall take place by secret ballot on a day or days to be decided by the returning officer and according to the principle of proportional representation.
4. The employer in consultation with existing employees shall appoint a returning officer whose duties shall include the organisation and conduct of nominations and elections and that officer may authorise other persons to assist in the performance of the duties of returning officer.
5. The returning officer shall perform his or her duties in a fair and reasonable manner and in the interests of an orderly and proper conduct of nomination and election procedures.
6. The cost of the nomination and election procedure shall be borne by the employer.
SCHEDULE 3
Redress for Contravention
Section 13.
F3 [ Decision of adjudication officer under section 41 of Workplace Relations Act 2015
1. A decision of an adjudication officer under section 41 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015 in relation to a complaint of a contravention of section 13 shall do one or more of the following, namely —
(a) declare that the complaint was or, as the case may be, was not well founded,
(b) require the employer to take a specified course of action, or
(c) require the employer to pay to the employee compensation of such amount (if any) as the adjudication officer considers just and equitable having regard to all of the circumstances but not exceeding 2 years ’ remuneration in respect of the employee ’ s employment.
Decision of Labour Court on appeal from decision referred to in paragraph 1
2. A decision of the Labour Court under section 44 of the Workplace Relations Act 2015 on appeal from a decision of an adjudication officer referred to in paragraph 1 shall affirm, vary or set aside the decision of the adjudication officer. ]
Paragraphs 1 and 2: supplemental provisions.
3. F4 [ … ]
Annotations:
Amendments:
F3
Substituted (1.10.2015) by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 52(1) and sch. 7 part 1 item 22, S.I. No. 410 of 2015, subject to transitional provision in subs. (3).
F4
Repealed (1.10.2015) by Workplace Relations Act 2015 (16/2015), s. 8(1) and sch. 2 part 1 item 21, S.I. No. 410 of 2015, subject to transitional provision in subs. (2).
The text in italics on this page is sourced from lawreform.ie and is re-published under the Licence for Re-Use of Public Sector Information made pursuant to Directive 2003/98/EC Directive 2013/37/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the re-use of public sector information transposed into Irish law by the European Communities (Re-Use of Public Sector Information) Regulations 2005 to 2015.
S.I. No. 132/2008 –
Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Information and Consultation) (Declaration) Order 2008
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT 1990 (CODE OF PRACTICE ON INFORMATION AND CONSULTATION) (DECLARATION) ORDER 2008
Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in
“Iris Oifigiúil” of 9th May, 2008.
WHEREAS the Labour Relations Commission has prepared under subsection (1) of section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 (No. 19 of 1990), a draft code of practice on information and consultation;
AND WHEREAS the Labour Relations Commission has complied with subsection (2) of that section and has submitted the draft code of practice to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment;
NOW THEREFORE I, Billy Kelleher, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by subsection (3) of that section, the Labour (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1993 ( S.I. No. 18 of 1993 ) (as adapted by the Enterprise and Employment (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 1997 ( S.I. No. 305 of 1997 )), and the Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 3) Order 2007 ( S.I. No. 561 of 2007 ), hereby order as follows:
1. This Order may be cited as the Industrial Relations Act 1990 (Code of Practice on Information and Consultation) (Declaration) Order 2008.
2. It is declared that the code of practice set out in the Schedule shall be a code of practice for the purposes of the Industrial Relations Act 1990 (No. 19 of 1990).
SCHEDULE Code of Practice on Information and Consultation
1. Introduction
1.1 Section 42 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990 provides for the preparation of draft Codes of Practice by the Labour Relations Commission for submission to the Minister, and for the making by the Minister of an order declaring that a draft Code of Practice received under Section 42 and scheduled to the order shall be a Code of Practice for the purposes of the said Act.
1.2 The Commission was requested by the Minister for Labour Affairs to prepare a Code of Practice to assist employers and employees in implementing the provisions of The Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act, 2006.
2. Purpose
2.1 The purpose of this Code of Practice is to assist employers, employees and their representatives to develop effective arrangements for communications and consultation in accordance with the provisions of the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act, 2006. The Code draws on a number of sources:
• The Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act, 2006;
• The experience of the Commission drawn from the delivery of its advisory, conciliation, dispute resolution and research services;
• Consultation with the Social Partners.
2.2 The Code seeks to provide a plain explanation of the legislation. While the thrust of the Code is about effective compliance with the legislation, organisations should look at effective communications and consultation as intrinsic elements to good employee/employer industrial relations, having positive implications for performance and the workplace generally.
3. Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006
What is it?
3.1 Essentially, the Act is about giving employees the right to information and consultation about developments in their workplaces, about, for example, issues impacting on employment, in work organisation or in contractual relationships with employees.
Who does it apply to?
3.2 It applies to any business/organisation in the public or private sector (referred to as an “undertaking” in the Act and defined as carrying out an economic activity, whether or not operating for gain) with the following minimum workforce thresholds:
• having at least 150 employees from 4 September 2006;
• having at least 100 employees from 23 March 2007;
• having at least 50 employees from 23 March 2008.
3.3 Simply put, the Act will apply, when it is fully in force by 23 March 2008, to any organisation in Ireland employing at least 50 employees.
How is the workforce threshold calculated?
3.4 The calculation is based during a two year period on an average of the number of employees employed in the organisation. Any employee (or a representative) can request data on the number of employees in the organisation. Employees may need information from their employer about the number of employees in the organisation — for example to find out whether the organisation comes within the scope of the legislation or to find out how many employees are required to make a valid employee request (see below). The employer is obliged to furnish this information within 4 weeks of date of receipt of the request (this can be extended by agreement).
3.5 If the number of employees falls below the workforce threshold referred to above and remains below it for 12 months, any Information and Consultation Forum established under the Act (see Section 3.3 re. Standard Rules Provisions) may be dissolved on the request of either the employer or employees.
4. Process for Establishing Information and Consultation Arrangements
How can an information and consultation arrangement be put in place?
4.1 It is important to note that the right to information and consultation does not operate automatically. Basically an employee request must be made by at least 10% of the employees in the organisation, subject to a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 100 employees. The Act provides that the request can be made either directly to the employer or to the Labour Court (or its nominee). Where a request is made to the Labour Court, it will then notify the employer, seek certain information that will allow it to verify the number and names of the employees who have made the request, and issue a notification confirming whether or not the request meets the employee threshold.
4.2 An employer may, at its own initiative, take steps to put in place an information and consultation arrangement. Obviously, an agreement put in place on foot of a freely entered into engagement process between employers and employees has positive benefits in terms of positive industrial relations generally including effectiveness, trust building and durability.
4.3 Where an employer is requested to put in place an information and consultation arrangement by at least 10% of its employees (see above), it is obliged to begin negotiations with the employees and or their representatives with a view to establishing arrangements. Once negotiations are entered into, there are two possible outcomes — either a negotiated agreement or the standard rules.
4.4 It is important to note that where employees make a written request for an arrangement but do not meet the minimum employee threshold, a further request cannot be made for 2 years.
What does an employee request look like?
4.5 A request should be in writing, give the names of those making it and state the date on which it is sent. It is important to note that the request needs the validation of the workforce as regards meeting the “numbers” thresholds outlined above. Where there is a refusal to communicate information, an employee can refer a matter to the Labour Court, which may issue a determination on the matter.
How long can negotiations go on for?
4.6 Parties are given 6 months from the time of starting negotiations to agree an information and consultation arrangement. This period can be extended by agreement.
What happens if an employer does not respond to a valid employee request?
4.7 Where an employer refuses to enter into negotiations within 3 months of receiving a written request from employees (or the Labour Court), the Standard Rules provisions of the Act shall apply (see Section 3.3).
4.8 Overview — employee perspective
I’m an employee. How do I make a request under the Act to have an information and consultation arrangement put in place?The process can be started by a group of employees — at least 10% of the workforce subject to a minimum of 15 employees or a maximum of 100 — making a request to the employer. However before any request is made you need to clarify that your organisation is covered by the new rules. Only if your organisation falls within the scope of the legislation and a sufficient number of you make a request, will your employer be obliged to do anything.How do I know if my organisation falls within the scope of the legislation?You need to know the numbers of people working in the organisation. You can request this information from your employer who is obliged to provide it no later than 4 weeks from date of request. The request should be made in writing and dated. The request can be made by a representative (must be employed in the organisation). If this is unsuccessful there is also the option of requesting the Labour Court to ask the employer for these details.I’ve confirmed that my organisation falls within the scope of the legislation. What happens next?A request to put in place an information and consultation arrangement must be made by at least 10% of the workforce subject to a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 100. You need to ensure therefore that you meet this threshold. You should be able to calculate this from the information provided by your employer. You should note that where a request is made but there are not sufficient numbers to do so, a further request cannot be made for 2 years. Assuming the employee threshold is met, a written request should be made to the employer. It is advisable that the request should be dated and signed to reduce any possibility of dispute.Who are the representatives negotiating an information and consultation arrangement?Negotiating representatives are chosen by the employees to represent them in discussions with the employer to draw up an agreement. They can be elected in a ballot or simply appointed by the employees without election.I am a union member. Will my union be my representative?The legislation provides that where it is the practice of the employer to conduct collective bargaining negotiations with a union or excepted body, and a union or excepted body represents at least 10% of the employees, those employees are entitled to have their own representatives on a pro-rata basis to non-union representatives.
4.9 Overview — employer perspective
I don’t have an information and consultation arrangement in place. What do I have to do?One option is to do nothing and wait for a valid request from 10% of your workforce to negotiate new arrangements. The risk here of course is that by doing nothing you may get a valid request from 10% of your workforce essentially forcing you to negotiate on an arrangement.You can take the initiative and negotiate on new information and consultation arrangements.I already have an information and consultation arrangement in place. What do I have to do?The arrangement in place may not comply with the requirements under the Act, for example it may not be written down, cover all employees or have been approved by the employees. Basically you need to ensure that your arrangement meets the criteria in the Act (see Section 3.2)
5. Options under the Act for putting in place arrangements.
5.1 The Act provides that an information and consultation arrangement can be established either by means of a negotiated agreement, a pre-existing agreement or the Standard Rules.
6. Negotiated Agreements
What is a negotiated agreement?
6.1 Negotiated agreements are information and consultation agreements drawn up in negotiations between an employer and employees and/or their representatives. Employees who want a negotiated agreement must make a formal request under the legislation (see above). Employers can start the process themselves by notifying their employees that they will be doing so.
What is included in a negotiated agreement?
6.2 Parties are free to decide for themselves the subject matter of information and consultation along with methods and structures for delivery. Essentially parties can design an arrangement to suit their own particular requirements. Clearly, however, whatever arrangement is put in place should be workable, effective and enjoy the trust of the parties concerned.
What must a negotiated agreement look like?
6.3 Negotiated agreements must
• Identify the issues on which the organisation will inform and consult;
• Relate to all employees;
• Set out the method and timeframe by which information and consultation is to be provided, including whether it is to be provided directly to employees or indirectly through employees’ representatives (address issues around number of representatives, how they will be appointed or elected, how they will serve, how they will be replaced etc)
•Set out the duration of the agreement and any renegotiation procedure;
• Be in writing and dated;
• Signed by the employer;
• Available for inspection as agreed between the parties;
• Set out the procedure for dealing with confidential information.
What issues need to be addressed at the pre-negotiation stage?
6.4 The following issues need to be addressed at the pre-negotiation stage:
• The appointment or election of negotiating representatives, ensuring that all employees are represented. The Act gives responsibility to the employer for arranging the appointment or election of employees’ representatives. No limit is placed on the number of representatives. In organisations where it the practice of the employer to conduct collective bargaining with a trade union or excepted body and where the union or excepted body represents at least 10% of the workforce, the employees who are members of the union or excepted body are entitled to elect or appoint their own representatives; (see Section 5)
• Informing all employees in writing of the negotiating representatives;
• Timescales and extensions;
• Dispute resolution methods.
How can a negotiated agreement be approved by employees?
6.5 A negotiated agreement has to be approved by the employees. This can be done by either the majority of employees who cast a preference doing so in favour of the agreement (for example by voting in a ballot) or by approval of a majority of employees’ representatives (elected or appointed for the purposes of negotiations in the context of the legislation). However, the parties are also free to agree another procedure to demonstrate approval. It is important that whatever approval process is adopted, that it is confidential, transparent and capable of independent verification. There may be associated costs with a plebiscite. In this regard it is suggested that the employer should carry any reasonable costs arising.
What happens if a negotiated agreement is rejected by employees?
6.6 Clearly, for a negotiated agreement to be put in place, the draft would have to be amended with a view to seeking approval later. A fully inclusive negotiation process at the drafting stage wherein the employees’ representatives are fully engaged in the process will minimise the possibility of rejection.
6.7 An inability to agree an arrangement ultimately will result in the Standard Rules provisions applying (see Section 3.3).
7. Pre-Existing Agreements
What is a pre-existing agreement?
7.1 Some organisations have information and consultation arrangements already in place, which may be regarded by the parties as effective and suitable for their needs and in compliance with the legislation. The Act provides an opportunity for the parties to use such arrangements provided that these pre-existing agreements are in place by certain dates specified in the legislation. (It should be noted that after 23 March 2008 it will not be possible to put in place a pre-existing agreement.)
What is included in a pre-existing agreement?
7.2 Again, as is the case with a negotiated agreement, parties are free to decide for themselves the subject matter of information and consultation along with methods and structures for delivery.
What must a pre-existing agreement look like?
7.3 The elements of a pre-existing agreement are similar to those that apply to a negotiated agreement.
How can a pre-existing agreement be approved by employees?
7.4 A pre-existing agreement has to be approved by the employees by means of the majority of employees who cast a preference doing so in favour of the agreement (there is no provision for approval by employees’ representatives, as is the case with regard to a negotiated agreement). The parties are free to agree another procedure to demonstrate approval. It is important that whatever approval process is adopted, that it is confidential, transparent and capable of independent verification. There may be associated costs with a plebiscite. In this regard it is suggested that the employer should carry any reasonable costs arising.
What are the benefits of a pre-existing agreement?
7.5 It means that arrangements that are working well and have the support of employees can continue.
8. Agreements based on Standard Rules on Information and Consultation
What are Standard Rules?
8.1 The Standard Rules provisions are essentially a fall-back position. They only become relevant in the following circumstances:
• Where there is agreement on the part of both employees and employers to adopt them;
• Where the employer fails to initiate negotiations within 3 months of receiving a valid employee request;
• Where negotiations have failed to lead to an agreement within 6 months from start of negotiations.
How do Standard Rules Work?
8.2 Unlike negotiated agreements and pre-existing agreements where parties are free to devise and agree their own information and consultation arrangements (regarding for example content, methods and structure), arrangements based on the Standard Rules provisions are set out in the legislation. The key element in this is the establishment of an Information and Consultation Forum made up of employees’ representatives. The Forum must be made of at least 3 but not more than 30 members. The structure of the Forum, rules of procedure, competence, expenses and practical arrangements for information and consultation are provided for. The arrangement that is set up must provide for employees’ representatives i.e. it is not possible for an employer to inform and consult directly with employees.
How are information and consultation employees’ representatives elected?
8.3 It is important to note that it is only in the Standard Rules provisions of the Act where the requirements regarding the election of employees’ representatives, are detailed.
8.4 Employees’ representatives must be elected in a ballot, according to the principle of proportional representation, in an agreed process organised by the employer, or in the absence of an election, appointed by the employees. The employer is responsible for associated costs.
9. Direct Channels
9.1 In relation to negotiated agreements and pre-existing agreements there are two core methods by which information and consultation can be carried out — either by the provision of information and consultation direct to employees or through employees’ representatives. Essentially the Act provides that employers are free to continue with arrangements that deal with employees directly — as well as indirectly through employees’ representatives. However it is important that the arrangement explicitly states which method is to be used. The Act also provides that employees must be free at a later stage to exercise their right to information and consultation through employees’ representatives.
9.2 The Act prescribes a mechanism for processing a request by employees from a system of direct involvement to one involving representatives including a requirement that a minimum of 10% of employees for whom the direct involvement system operates must request the change, with the minimum requirement being subject to the approval of the majority of employees to whom the direct involvement system applies. Following approval of such a request there is an obligation on the employer to arrange for the election or appointment of representatives by the employees.
10. Employee Representation
10.1 Employers are responsible under the Act for arrangements providing for the election and appointment of employees’ representatives. In this regard it should be noted that where it is the practice of the employer to conduct collective bargaining negotiations with a union or excepted body, and a union or excepted body represents at least 10% of the employees, those employees are entitled to have their own representatives on a pro-rata basis to other representatives.
10.2 The Act makes provision for information and consultation to be either provided directly to employees or through employees’ representatives and for arrangements to be negotiated and approved by either employees or employees’ representatives. This section focuses on issues arising where information and consultation is provided through employees’ representatives, elected or appointed for the purposes of this Act.
10.3 With regard to employee representation, in practice there will be two main types of situation, depending on whether trade unions are recognised for the purposes of collective bargaining or not.
11. Employments where Collective Bargaining takes place
11.1 Under this heading there can be a variety of patterns of trade union recognition, ranging from situations where collective bargaining is in place for the entire workforce, to situations where the union/unions represents a minority/majority of the workforce. In some instances union representation and collective bargaining coverage may be limited to specific grades and/or professions within the overall workforce. Similarly many organisations will have developed their own customs, norms and practices that reflect their particular trade union and collective bargaining structures. Given the potential diversity of employment relations arrangements that can exist it is not considered possible/appropriate for the Code to cover every potential permutation. Rather the emphasis is on outlining some general principles of good practice that can assist in ensuring that negotiated information and consultation arrangements are viable, appropriate and genuinely representative of the whole workforce. A number of key issues of relevance include the following:
• Pro-rata principle
The Act states that where there is collective bargaining in place, and where the union or excepted body represents at least 10% of the employees in the organisation, the union will be entitled to appoint or elect representatives (on a pro-rata basis to other employees’ representatives).
Where the union represents the entire workforce, the union is entitled to elect or appoint all of the information and consultation representatives. Where the union represents less than the entire workforce (but at least 10% of the workforce) it is entitled to appoint representatives on a pro-rata basis to non-union representatives.
• Multi-union workplaces
In multi-union workplaces, i.e. where collective bargaining arrangements are in place involving more than one union (and subject to the 10% threshold being met) it is open to the unions to agree arrangements between themselves with regard to the appointment of employees’ representatives.
• Scope
While the selection process of employees’ representatives is likely to reflect existing union structures and collective bargaining arrangements, it is important that the representatives, elected or appointed for the purposes of this Act are genuinely representative and should seek to reflect the make-up of the entire workforce. This would be particularly important, for example, in large organisations with diverse functions and/or working arrangements (for example shift patterns).
In practice an election should be held where the number of candidates exceeds the number of positions available. Where employees’ representatives are to be chosen by election, an employee should be eligible to stand as a candidate provided he or she is nominated by at least two employees or a trade union.
It would be important that the design of the constituencies for the election of employees’ representatives reflects both the existing trade union structures and collective bargaining arrangements and the overall employment relations culture within an organisation. Equally, where appropriate, such constituencies should also correlate with the aforementioned pro-rata principle for union / non-union representation. While the design of the actual constituencies for election / selection of employees’ representatives is a key issue, it is also important to reiterate that the overall objective is to put in place information and consultation arrangements that ultimately will be appropriate, effective and representative of the workforce as a whole.
12. Other Employments
12.1 A variety of situations could apply ranging from organisations where there is no union recognition of any employee to organisations where the majority/minority of employees are recognised for collective bargaining purposes. A number of key issues include the following:
• Scope
The number of representatives should reflect the make-up of the workforce. Essentially numbers would depend on the structure/size of the organisation, and the need to ensure all areas of the employment are represented. This would be particularly important in for example large organisations with diverse functions and those with shift arrangements.
• Election/Appointment of Representatives
Representatives, whether elected or appointed, need to be genuinely representative of their constituency. Election arrangements need to be confidential and transparent. All employees in the employment should be invited to nominate either another employee with their consent or themselves for election. In practice an election should be held where the number of candidates exceeds the number of positions available. An election should be confidential, transparent and capable of independent verification. There may be costs associated with holding an election. It is suggested that the employer should carry any reasonable cost arising.
13. Reasonable Facilities
13.1 The Act provides that representatives should be reasonably facilitated in carrying out their roles as employees’ representatives promptly and effectively. Typically this would include the following:
• Paid time off to prepare for and attend information and consultation meetings.
• Provision of telephone, photocopying and e-mail facilities including facilities to allow for informing and consulting with employees.
• Reasonable facilities, including paid time off, to attend training courses appropriate to functioning effectively as an information and consultation employee representative.
13.2 Due regard should be given to the capability of the organisation to meet these obligations.
14. Protection of Employees’ Representatives
14.1 The Act provides that an employer should not penalise representatives for performing their functions under the Act (for example, by dismissal or other prejudicial treatment such as unfavourable changes in conditions of employment). The Act provides that a grievance arising in this regard can be referred to a Rights Commissioner and that a decision of a Rights Commissioner can be appealed to the Labour Court.
15. Responsibilities of Employees’ Representatives
15.1 When negotiating, putting in place and participating in arrangements for information and consultation, representatives (and the employer) have a duty to work co-operatively and to take into account the best interests of both the employment and the employees.
16. Disputes around Information and Consultation in Arrangements
What happens if there is a dispute?
16.1 Differences may arise in relation to information and consultation arrangements. As best practice it is recommended that an arrangement should make a specific provision for dispute resolution. In this regard, in the interests of positive management/employee relationships and trust development, the emphasis should be on seeking to resolve the issue internally, i.e. directly between the parties (organisations with collective bargaining in place will have dispute resolution processes in place which could be adapted).
16.2 However, parties may not be able to reach agreement at local level. In these situations the Act makes extensive provision for third party dispute resolution in relation to different types of dispute arising from the various provisions of the Act. Specifically these relate to interpretation or operation of agreements or systems of direct involvement. It is important to note the first point of referral in this regard is the Conciliation Services of the Labour Relations Commission, which gives parties an opportunity to reach agreement on the matter in contention in an informal process under the chairmanship of an independent third party. If the dispute is not resolved, it is referred to the Labour Court for recommendation or determination. Ultimately a Labour Court determination can be enforced by the Circuit Court.
17. Confidentiality
17.1 The issue of confidentiality in the context of an information and consultation arrangement is significant. There can be sensitivities (or perception of sensitivities) on the part of organisations around concerns about disclosing information to employees on, for example, financial performance or strategy. The Act introduces a statutory basis for a duty of confidentiality as follows:
• Anyone who receives confidential information while participating in an information and consultation arrangement (e.g. a member of an Information and Consultation Forum, an employee representative or participant, an expert providing assistance) is bound by a duty of confidentiality not to reveal that information. Such a person may disclose information provided in confidence to employees and third parties where those in turn are subject to a duty of confidentiality under the Act.
• An employer may refuse to communicate information or undertake consultation with its employees provided it can show objectively that the information or consultation would seriously harm the functioning of the enterprise or be prejudicial to the enterprise.
What happens if there is a dispute around confidential information?
17.2 Disputes around, for example, breaching confidentiality, an employer refusing to communicate or consult on confidentiality grounds, may be referred directly by an employer, employee or employees’ representatives to the Labour Court for determination. The Labour Court may be assisted by a panel of experts to assist it in determining what is confidential information.
17.3 In general terms it is recommended that an information and consultation arrangement should address the issue of confidentiality in terms of clarifying relevant circumstances etc.
18. Staff Forums/Committees
18.1 The Act does not prescribe methods of delivery of communications and consultation (other than in regard to the Standard Rules provisions). Clearly an arrangement providing for information and consultation to be delivered through representatives will involve the establishment of an Information and Consultation Committee/Forum. As best practice it is recommended that the operating principles of the Committee/Forum should be agreed (e.g. in the form of a Charter). A number of matters have to be addressed in this regard including:
• The appointment or election of representatives/protection afforded them;
• The role/ purpose of the Forum i.e. to provide information and make provision for consultation and how this is to be provided;
• Operating procedures;
•Training of members (both employee and management representatives);
• Dealing with confidential information;
• Dispute Resolution;
• Role of experts.
19. Some Key Principles
• As can be seen, the Act offers parties flexibility to put in place an arrangement that best suits their needs in terms of subject matter and structure. Clearly, however, whatever arrangement is put in place should be, in the interests of a genuine communications and consultation strategy, in accordance with best practice, workable, effective and enjoy the trust of all concerned.
• Organisations should be proactive in putting in place arrangements, by looking at effective communications and consultation as intrinsic elements to good employee/employer industrial relations with positive implications for performance and the workplace generally.
• It is important to note that the Act does not prescribe any particular communications and consultation arrangements. That is entirely a matter for each organisation. An organisation has therefore the flexibility to design practical arrangements that suit its and its employees’ needs.
• The importance of developing an arrangement openly, transparently and in full consultation with all parties i.e. management, employees and their representatives as appropriate, should not be underestimated. The joint development of an arrangement has major trust building benefits, will ensure a greater “buy in” and result in a more robust arrangement in the long term.
• The provision of effective and relevant training in appropriate communication and consultation skills is essential. In particular joint management/employee training can have particular benefits in terms of mutual understanding and trust building.
• Effective communications and consultation are long term commitments, requiring time for trust to develop or improve and adapt/refine whatever arrangement is put in place. Essentially what is needed is belief from all concerned in the intrinsic value of good communications and consultation to all concerned parties.
20. Further information and advice
For further information and advice on any aspect of this document please contact:
The Labour Relations Commission
Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road, Dublin 4
Tel: (01) 613 6700 Fax: (01) 613 6701
Web: www.lrc.ie
For further information on the Information and Consultation Act 2006 please contact:
The Director of the National Employment Rights Authority
O’Brien Road, Carlow.
Tel: Lo Call 1890 80 80 90
Web: www.employmentrights.ie
Note: All legislation, both Acts and Statutory Instruments, cited in this Code of Practice are available from www.irishstatutebook.ie or www.entemp.ie
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GIVEN under my hand,
29 April 2008
BILLY KELLEHER,
Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
EXPLANATORY NOTE.
(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)
The effect of this Order is to declare that the code of practice set out in the Schedule to this Order is a code of practice for the purposes of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990 .