This week, Ciara O’Gorman, Development Manager with South Munster Citizens Information Service outlines some of the rights and entitlements of seasonal and part-time workers.
A seasonal worker is a person who, for a limited period, works for a seasonal operation which is frequently found in the horticultural or agricultural sector. Other sectors, such as tourism and construction, are also included. Employees placed by an agency to carry out seasonal work are also in this category.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Ciara corrects a common misconception and stressed: “Workers on seasonal work patterns have full access to the employment law provisions and to the terms and conditions of employment that employees are guaranteed under the law in Ireland. Within five days of commencing employment, an employee must receive a written statement of the five core terms of their employment. In addition to this, employees must receive a full written statement of their terms and conditions of employment within two months of commencing employment.”
WAGES AND PAY
The National Minimum Wage is the minimum hourly pay rate that employers can legally pay their employees. It applies to full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees. The rates are age related, with the full rate of €11.30 per hour applying to those age 20 or over.
Ciara warns: “If your employment is covered by an SEO or an ERO you may have an entitlement to a higher rate of pay. An employee is also entitled to a premium payment for Sunday working.”
A written statement of wages (pay slip) must be given to every employee with every payment of wages or, if you are paid electronically, as soon as possible after an electronic transfer has taken place.
WORKING HOURS
The legislation sets out the rules around maximum working hours and, also, daily and weekly rest breaks. In some industries, such as agriculture and tourism, the rest breaks and rest periods may differ. You can get more information by contacting your local CIC or looking up our website www.citizensinformation.ie.
HOLIDAY LEAVE
All employees, whether they are full-time, part-time, temporary or seasonal, earn annual leave and public holiday entitlements from the time they commence employment. There are minimum statutory entitlements for all employees, including an entitlement to four weeks paid annual leave per leave year for most employees.
However, employees’ holiday entitlements are calculated depending on time worked. Ciara says: “If you need help calculating your annual leave entitlements, feel free to give us a call and we will be happy to help.”
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
In Ireland there are now ten public holidays each year. From February 2023, there was a new public holiday on the first Monday in February. This will be on the first Monday in February each year thereafter, except where 1st February falls on a Friday in which case that Friday, 1st February will be the public holiday. While full-time workers have an immediate entitlement to benefit for public holidays, part-time workers have entitlement to benefit when they have worked a total of 40 hours in the previous 5 weeks.
PART-TIME WORKERS
“If you work part-time, you have the right to be treated fairly in comparison to your full-time co-workers,” says Ciara. “You are a part-time worker if you have fewer normal working hours than a comparable full-time worker. A comparable full-time worker works for the same employer as you, and either:
- Does the same work as you, under the same or similar conditions
- Is interchangeable with you in relation to the work done (for example, you can substitute or fill in for one another)
- Does the same work or similar work to you, and any differences between your work and working conditions are insignificant
- Does work of equal value, or of lesser value, than you.
The law on part-time work is set out in the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001. This Act applies to all part-time workers, including casual workers. Part-time employees’ entitlements are generally in proportion (pro-rata basis) to full-time employees’ entitlements. This means that they should be in proportion to your hours.” Ciara confirms that there are minimum periods of continuous service required for the purpose of Unfair Dismissal and Redundancy entitlements as per the Unfair Dismissals Acts 1973-2015, and the Redundancy Payments Act 2003.
If you would like more information on this topic, please contact a member of the local Citizens Information team.
Fermoy CIC opening hours: Monday and Tuesday 9-1 and 2-5; Wednesday and Thursday 9-1. Phone 0818 07 7970 Email: fermoy@citinfo.ie. Phones are monitored from 9 to 5 Monday to Friday so leave your name and number and you will get a call back.
Mallow CIC opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9-1 and 2-4.30, Tuesday 9-12.30. Phone 0818 07 8000. Email mallow@citinfo.ie. Phones are monitored from 9 to 5 Monday to Friday so leave your name and number and you will get a call back. Please note Mitchelstown CIC calls are currently being handled by Mallow CIC. Alternatively log on to www.citizensinformation.ie
