Employers to be 'named and shamed' over workers' rights
Employers have been warned that they face being "named and shamed" if they break the law by failing to give employees their statutory entitlements, employment group McCann FitzGerald have warned today.
Terence McCrann, head of the group, said the newly established National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) will be a powerful champion for employment rights and among its powers is the ability to publicly publish the names of employers who don’t comply with employment laws.
According to McCrann, the new agency will also have powers to inspect premises and seek records in order to confirm that employees are receiving their full employment rights under employment legislation.
Speaking at the launch of McCann FitzGerald's "Employment Law Briefing", which was launched by Ger Deering, the Director of NERA, McCrann said that he was greatly encouraged by the Director's drive to raise awareness and knowledge amongst employees and employers of precisely what those employment rights are.
McCrann added that most employers are compliant with employment law and greatly exceed the minimum statutory requirements because of a wish to attract and retain the very best people for their organisations.
Mr McCrann said: "The most successful employers are those who subscribe to the philosophy of creating an excellent work environment that encourages and rewards initiative and does not simply seek to do the statutory minimum for employees."
However, he added that the real problem lay with employees in certain sectors being exploited and not getting their rights and entitlements.
"NERA will play a vital role in ensuring that employees get their full legal entitlements and that employers observe minimum statutory requirements set down by law. Enforcement and prosecutions will follow," he said.
