Recent Developments In Employment Law In Ireland

An Equality Tribunal case has stated that employers should put in place clear procedures for ensuring that non-national employees understand their terms and conditions of employment as well as health and safety documentation.

On 30 April 2008 the Equality Tribunal issued its decision in the case of 58 Named Complainants v Goode Concrete Limited. Like many companies operating in the construction sector, Goode Concrete Limited has an extremely diverse workforce. In its total workforce of 166 people, 14 nationalities are represented and 13 different languages are spoken.

Fifty-eight employees, representing six different nationalities, brought claims against the company alleging discrimination on race grounds. Most of the complaints were similar, all alleging discriminatory treatment in the company's failure to provide each employee with a contract of employment in his native language and in failing