Ireland has been fined €1.54 million by the Court of Justice of the European Union, the EU’s highest court.
This fine comes after Ireland failed to fully transpose the EU’s 2019 directive on work-life balance into Irish law by the specified deadline.
What is the work-life balance directive?
The EU work-life balance directive was adopted in 2019 and aims to support working parents and carers to meet their support requirements while continuing to work.
The directive requires EU member countries to implement legislation on issues such as flexible working requests and unpaid care leave.
Delays to the work-life balance directive
The EU directive was due to be transposed by 2022, but Ireland only became fully compliant in 2024, when the right to request flexible working arrangements came into force.
The Irish Government has stated that there were several specific circumstances which contributed to the delay, including the fact that the pandemic coincided with the period in which the directive was to be transposed into legislation.
Additionally, it has been suggested that the transposition was delayed due to the Government’s efforts to extend the new legislation beyond the original directive. Legislation surrounding domestic violence leave and breastfeeding breaks may have delayed the implementation of the original work-life balance directive.
A reminder for employers
This story is a reminder to employers of the importance of keeping up to date with upcoming employment legislation. When directives are issued by the EU, or when upcoming laws are announced by the Government, it is crucial that your business is informed and prepared for the changes to come.
Staying informed means that new legislation will never catch you out and will significantly decrease your risk of non-compliance.
