The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has announced in its annual report that it recovered over €2.1 million in unpaid wages for employees during 2024.
This figure serves as a stark reminder to employers of the critical importance of maintaining compliance with employment law requirements.
Key findings from the report: inspections and unpaid wages
- 5,156 inspections were carried out in 2024.
- Inspections in the beauty, retail, and food services industries found the highest number of breaches.
- €2,158,870 in unpaid wages was collected last year (in comparison to €1.95 million in 2023).
- In the food industry alone, €453,172 of unpaid wages were recovered.
- €221,000 in unpaid wages was recovered from the wholesale and retail sectors.
- Over the past three years, there has been a steady increase in the number of employer inspections carried out, and also an increase in breaches of employment law obligations.
Key findings from the report: claims and complaints
- There was an 18% increase in complaints made to the WRC in 2024.
- There were 7,316 complaint applications made in 2024, representing 14,890 individual complaints.
- The most common complaints were in relation to pay (27%), unfair dismissals (15%), discrimination (14%) and working time and terms of employment (9%).
Key findings from the report: adjudication and prosecution
- There was a 6% increase in the number of adjudication hearings in 2024.
- Approximately 180 hearings took place per week.
- 77 employers were convicted for breaches of employment law.
- Successful prosecutions went up by 27% on 2023.
Advice for employers
- Stay up to date with employment law: As an employer, it’s crucial to stay up to date on the latest changes in employment law. By keeping on top of your legal obligations, you will feel more confident that you and your business remain compliant with WRC inspection standards.
- Review essential documentation: HR documentation should be audited regularly, especially whenever a major employment legislation change takes place. It would be prudent of employers to ensure all documentation, including employee handbooks and employment contracts, be reviewed and re-drafted if necessary.
- Train your managers and decision makers: Another key step to WRC compliance is ensuring that your line managers and decision makers are also trained in HR essentials. This way, you can ensure that your business is treating HR issues in a consistent and compliant manner.
