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Uimhir 40 de 1979
AN tACHT UM ÍOC PÁ, 1979
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
folaíonn “cuntas” cuntas reatha agus cuntas taisce (cibé acu is faoin ainm sin nó mar thaisce nó in aon slí eile a thuairiscítear é);
ciallaíonn “Acht 1831” an Truck Act, 1831;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1874” an Hosiery Manufacture (Wages) Act, 1874;
ciallaíonn “Acht 1887” an Truck Amendment Act, 1887;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Saothair;
tá le “ceardchumann” an bhrí chéanna atá leis sna hAchtanna Ceardchumann, 1871 go 1975;
ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, ciallaíonn “pá”, seachas in alt 5 agus faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, aon mhéid ar pá é de réir bhrí agus chun críocha Acht 1831 nó Acht 1874.
(2) Beidh an éifeacht chéanna chun críocha an Achta seo le halt 10 d'Acht 1887 (a chuireann forálacha Acht 1831 agus an Achta chéadluaite chun feidhme maidir le heachtar-oibrithe nach bhfuil fostaithe go díreach) is atá leis chun críocha na nAchtanna sin, agus déanfar tagairtí san Acht seo do fhostaí, do fhostóirí agus do phá a fhorléiriú dá réir sin.
(3) Déanfar na tagairtí san Acht seo d'aon achtachán a fhorléiriú mar thagairtí don achtachán sin arna leasú nó arna leathnú le haon achtachán eile nó faoi.
Feidhmiú.
2.—Ní bhaineann an tAcht seo, seachas ailt 5 agus 8 (4), ach le fostaithe a mbaineann forálacha Acht 1831, nó forálacha an Achta sin arna leathnú le halt 10 d'Acht 1887, nó forálacha Acht 1874, le híoc a bpá.
Pá a íoc ar shlí seachas in airgead tirim.
3.—(1) D'ainneoin aon ní in aon achtachán eile, féadfaidh fostóir aon ionstraim nó modh íoca lena mbaineann an t-alt seo a úsáid chun pá a íoc le fostaí lena mbaineann an t-alt seo más rud é—
(a) (i) go ndéanfaidh an fostóir, agus—
(I) an fostaí, nó
(II) duine éigin eile a bheidh údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an bhfostaí síniú thar a cheann,
doiciméad a shíniú á shonrú gurb é an modh sin an modh íoca pá a úsáidfear, agus
(ii) go gcuirfidh an doiciméad in iúl go scoirfear den mhodh íoca sonraithe a úsáid—
(I) cibé uair a chinnfidh an fostóir agus an fostaí air sin, nó
(II) cibé am a shonrófar i bhfógra i scríbhinn a thabharfaidh ceachtar díobh don duine eile díobh nó, i gcás an doiciméad a bheith sínithe ag duine atá údaraithe faoin mír seo, a thabharfaidh an duine sin, nó duine éigin eile a bheidh ainmnithe i scríbhinn chun críocha an chlásail seo ag an bhfostaí lena mbaineann, don fhostóir, nó a thabharfaidh an fostóir don duine sin nó don duine eile sin, ach sin tráth nach lú ná ceithre sheachtain tar éis an lae ar a bhfaighfear an fógra,
nó
(b) (i) go mbeidh idir an fostóir nó eagraíocht fostóirí nó comhlacht eile daoine atá ionadaitheach d'fhostóirí (ar comhalta de an fostóir) agus aon cheardchumann nó aon chomhlacht eile daoine atá aitheanta chun críocha caibidlí comhargántaíochta ag an bhfostóir (agus ar comhalta de, i gceachtar cás, an fostaí) comhaontú i scríbhinn (cibé acu roimh dháta an Achta seo a rith nó dá éis a rinneadh é) á fhoráil gurb é an modh sin a úsáidfidh an fostóir, nó, i gcás a mbeidh an comhaontú déanta thar ceann fostóirí is comhaltaí d'eagraíocht den sórt sin, nó de chomhlacht eile atá ionadaitheach amhlaidh, a úsáidfidh gach fostóir den sórt sin, chun pá a íoc lena fhostaithe is comhaltaí den cheardchumann nó den chomhlacht eile atá aitheanta amhlaidh, de réir mar a bheidh, agus
(ii) mura mbeidh foráil ann lena athbhreithniú go tréimhsiúil, go bhforálann an comhaontú go bhféadfaidh ceachtar páirtí ann deireadh a chur leis ach fógra i scríbhinn a thabhairt don pháirtí eile ann, agus
(iii) go mbeidh tréimhse an fhógra sin sonraithe sa chomhaontú agus gur tréimhse í nach lú ná ceithre sheachtain,
agus féadfar leanúint den mhodh íoca a úsáid a bheidh sonraithe i ndoiciméad faoin bhfo-alt seo nó i gcomhaontú den sórt sin go dtí go gcuirfear deireadh lena úsáid de réir fhomhír (ii) de mhír (a) den fho-alt seo nó faoi réim agus de réir an chomhaontaithe, de réir mar is iomchuí.
(2) Más rud é, díreach roimh dháta an Achta seo a rith, go raibh ionstraim nó modh íoca lena mbaineann an t-alt seo á úsáid chun pá a íoc, ansin, chun go bhféadfar leanúint de phá a íoc amhlaidh, measfar, más gá, doiciméad a chomhlíonann ceanglais fho-alt (1) den alt seo a bheith sínithe ag an bhfostóir agus ag an bhfostaí lena mbaineann i ndáil leis an modh íoca sin, agus i gcás a measfar faoin bhfo-alt seo doiciméad den sórt sin a bheith sínithe, féadfar leanúint sa chás áirithe den mhodh íoca a bhí á úsáid roimh dháta an Achta seo a rith a úsáid go dtí go gcuirfear deireadh lena úsáid ar shlí a shonraítear i gclásal (I) nó (II) d'fho-alt (1) (a) (ii) den alt seo.
(3) Baineann an t-alt seo leis na hionstraimí agus na modhanna íoca seo a leanas, is é sin le rá—
(a) seic, dréacht nó bille malairte eile de réir bhrí an Bills of Exchange Act, 1882;
(b) aon doiciméad arna eisiúint ag duine a choinníonn cuntas le Banc Ceannais na hÉireann nó ag sealbhóir cheadúnas arb é is aidhm dó, cé nach bille malairte den sórt sin é, a chur ar chumas duine íoc na suime a bheidh luaite sa doiciméad a fháil ón mbanc sin nó ón sealbhóir sin;
(c) aon dréacht is iníoctha ar éileamh arna tharraingt ag sealbhóir ceadúnais air féin, cibé acu is i bpríomh-oifig a bhainc nó in oifig éigin eile dá bhanc atá sé iníoctha;
(d) aon ordú poist nó ordú airgid arna eisiúint ag an Aire Poist agus Telegrafa nó aon doiciméad arna eisiúint ag oifigeach poiblí arb é is aidhm dó a chur ar chumas duine íoc na suime a bheidh luaite sa doiciméad a fháil ó Aire de chuid an Rialtais;
(e) aon doiciméad arna eisiúint ag duine a choinníonn cuntas le banc taisce iontaobhais arb é is aidhm dó íoc na suime a bheidh luaite sa doiciméad a fháil ón mbanc;
(f) aistriú creidmheasa;
(g) cibé ionstraim nó modh íoca eile a bheidh sonraithe de thuras na huaire i rialacháin arna ndéanamh ag an Aire tar éis comhairle a ghlacadh leis an Aire Airgeadais.
(4) Gach rialachán a dhéanfar faoin alt seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus, má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagan faoina bhráid rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
(5) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “caibidlí comhargántaíochta” caibidlí idir aon fhostóir, eagraíocht fostóirí nó comhlacht eile daoine atá ionadaitheach d'fhostóirí de thaobh amhain agus aon eagraíocht nó comhlacht eile daoine atá ionadaitheach d'fhostaithe den taobh eile, ar caibidlí iad a bhaineann le luach saothair fostaithe nó lena dtéarmaí nó lena gcoinníollacha eile fostaíochta, nó lena ndálaí oibre;
ciallaíonn “ceadúnas” ceadúnas arna dheonú ag Banc Ceannais na hÉireann faoi alt 9 d'Acht an Bhainc Ceannais, 1971;
ciallaíonn “banc taisce iontaobhais” banc taisce iontaobhais arna dheimhniú faoi na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1979.
Forálacha breise i dtaobh pá a íoc ar shlí seachas in airgead tirim.
4.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, i gcás a gceanglófar ar fhostaí lena mbaineann an t-alt seo oibriú in áit seachas a ghnáth-áit fostaíochta nó i gcás a mbeidh sé as láthair ón obair ar saoire nó le toiliú a fhostóra nó mar gheall ar bhreoiteacht, féadfar ionstraim nó modh íoca lena mbaineann alt 3 den Acht seo a úsáid chun pá an fhostaí a íoc d'ainneoin nár síníodh doiciméad de réir alt 3 (1) den Acht seo, nó nach bhfuil comhaontú i bhfeidhm den sórt dá dtagraítear san alt sin 3 (1) agus a bhaineann leis an gcás áirithe, de réir mar is iomchuí.
(2) (a) Féadfaidh fostaí lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, trí fhógra i scríbhinn a thabhairt dá fhostóir, a cheangal ar an bhfostóir, fad a bheidh an fostaí—
(i) faoi cheangal oibriú in áit seachas a ghnáth-áit fostaíochta, nó
(ii) as láthair ón obair ar saoire nó le toiliú a fhostóra nó mar gheall ar bhreoiteacht,
a phá a íoc leis, nó a chur faoi deara é a íoc leis, in airgead tirim, agus i gcás fógra faoin bhfo-alt seo a bheith i bhfeidhm de thuras na huaire, ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) den alt seo i ndáil leis an bhfostaí.
(b) Fanfaidh fógra faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo i bhfeidhm—
(i) go dtí go dtarraingeofar siar é trí fhógra i scríbhinn arna thabhairt don fhostóir lena mbaineann ag an bhfostaí lena mbaineann, nó
(ii) go dtí go scoirfidh an fostaí lena mbaineann de bheith fostaithe ag an bhfostóir lena mbaineann.
Ráitis áirithe a thabhairt d'fhostaithe i dtaobh tuarastail nó pá.
5.—(1) I gcás a ndéanfaidh fostóir suim a bhaint as méid aon íocaíochta tuarastail nó pá a thugann sé d'fhostaí, tabharfaidh sé, nó cuirfidh sé faoi deara go dtabharfar, don fhostaí ráiteas i scríbhinn a inseoidh méid comhlán an tuarastail nó an phá is iníoctha agus cineál agus méid na hasbhainte, agus i gcás a dtabharfar ráiteas den sórt sin amhlaidh, déanfaidh an fostóir áirithe cibé bearta réasúnacha is gá chun a áirithiú go ndéanfar an t-ábhar lena mbaineann an ráiteas, agus an ráiteas sula dtabharfar don fhostaí é, a choimeád faoi rún.
(2) Tabharfar ráiteas faoin alt seo don fhostaí lena mbaineann—
(a) más trí aistriú creidmheasa, nó ar aon mhodh íoca eile trína gcuirtear méid chun creidmheasa chuntas a bheidh sonraithe ag an bhfostaí, a thabharfar an íocaíocht iomchuí, a luaithe is féidir,
(b) más ar aon mhodh íoca eile a thabharfar an íocaíocht sin, tráth na híocaíochta a thabhairt.
(3) Is forálacha de bhreis ar ailt 2 (2) (b), 3 (2) (b) agus 6 (3) den Truck Act, 1896, agus ní forálacha in ionad na n-alt sin, na forálacha sin roimhe seo den alt seo.
(4) I gcás a dtabharfar ráiteas d'fhostaí ina bhfuil earráid nó easnamh sna sonraí a éilítear leis an alt seo, measfar go gcomhlíonann an ráiteas ceanglais an ailt seo má shuitear gur dearmad cléireachais ba chúis leis an earráid nó leis an easnamh nó gur de thionóisc agus de mheon macánta ar shlí eile a rinneadh an céanna.
(5) Tiocfaidh an t-alt seo i bhfeidhm cibé lá a shocróidh an tAire le hordú.
Toirmeasc ar asbhaintí áirithe.
6.—Ní dleathach d'fhostóir aon suim a bhaint as aon phá a íoctar le fostaí lena mbaineann an t-alt seo de bhíthin amháin gur ar shlí seachas in airgead tirim a íoctar é.
Téarmaí nó coinníollacha áirithe a bheith ar neamhní.
7.—Aon téarma nó coinníoll de chuid comhaontaithe lena gceanglaítear ar dhuine—
(a) chun críocha alt 3 den Acht seo, doiciméad dá dtagraítear san alt sin 3 a shíniú nó a údarú do dhuine eile é a shíniú thar a cheann,
(b) gan deireadh a chur le húsáid ionstraime nó modha íoca pá is ionstraim nó modh íoca a shonraítear san alt sin agus atá á úsáid chun pá a íoc le fostaí lena mbaineann an t-alt sin,
beidh sé ar neamhní.
Cosaint.
8.—(1) I gcás a ndéanfar ionstraim nó modh íoca lena mbaineann alt 3 den Acht seo a úsáid mar mhodh chun pá a íoc le fostaí lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, beidh éifeacht leis na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) ní bhainfidh aon cheann de na hachtacháin seo a leanas le pá ar de réir an mhodha sin a íoctar é, eadhon, an Truck Act, 1743, alt 20 den County Works (Ireland) Act, 1846, nó alt 1 d'Acht 1874,
(b) ní dhéanfar aon chaingean ná imeachtaí eile dlí a thionscnamh faoi alt 4 d'Acht 1831 i leith pá ar de réir an mhodha sin a íoctar é ná i leith asbhaint dlíthiúil a chuirtear i gcuntas le linn an íocaíocht sin a bheith á ríomh,
(c) ní dhéanfar aon imeachtaí le haghaidh pionóis i leith íoc pá a dhéantar ar an modh sin a thionscnamh faoi alt 9 d'Acht 1831 ná faoi alt 3 d'Acht 1874.
(2) Chun críocha alt 9 d'Acht 1831 (faoinar cion é aon chonradh a dhéanamh nó aon íocaíocht a thabhairt a dhearbhaíonn an tAcht sin a bheith neamhdhleathach) beidh éifeacht leis na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) ní mheasfar—
(i) maidir le híocaíocht a thabharfar de bhun an Achta seo trí bhíthin ionstraim nó modh íoca lena mbaineann an tAcht seo, ná
(ii) maidir le doiciméad a shíniú de bhun alt 3 den Acht seo,
gur conradh nó íocaíocht iad a dearbhaíodh a bheith neamhdhleathach amhlaidh,
ná,
(b) ní mheasfar, maidir le conradh lena mbaineann alt 1 d'Acht 1831, gur conradh é a dearbhaíodh a bheith neamhdhleathach amhlaidh de bhíthin amháin go gcorpraíonn sé nó go bhfolaíonn sé ar dhóigh eile gach ceann nó aon cheann de na téarmaí atá i gcomhaontú dá dtagraítear in alt 3 (1) den Acht seo.
(3) (a) Fad a bheidh comhshocraíocht a thuairiscítear i bhfo-alt (1) d'alt 3 den Acht seo i bhfeidhm, nó, ag féachaint d'fho-alt (2) den alt sin, fad a bheidh sé intuigthe go bhfuil sí ann, nó
(b) fad a bheidh fógra faoi alt 4 den Acht seo i bhfeidhm,
ní bheidh éifeacht le halt 1 d'Acht 1874 maidir le haon íocaíocht pá, cibé acu is de bhun na comhshocraíochta nó nach ea a thabharfar í, a thabharfaidh an fostóir áirithe don fhostaí áirithe.
(4) Ní fhorléireofar aon ní in aon reacht dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ní a thoirmisceann, nó a thoirmisc riamh, ar fhostóir suim a bhaint as aon phá i gcás ina ndéanfar nó ina ndearnadh an asbhaint le toiliú an duine a mbeidh nó a raibh an pá iníoctha leis.
(5) In aon imeachtaí faoi alt 4 nó 9 d'Acht 1831 nó faoi alt 3 d'Acht 1874 is cosaint mhaith don chosantóir a chruthú gur chreid sé le réasún gur ionstraim nó modh íoca lena mbaineann alt 3 den Acht seo an modh a úsáideadh chun pá lena mbaineann na himeachtaí a íoc.
Gearrtheideal.
9.—Féadfar an tAcht um Íoc Pá, 1979, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Bills of Exchange Act, 1882 | 1882, c. 61. |
County Works (Ireland) Act, 1846 | 1846, c. 2. |
Hosiery Manufacture (Wages) Act, 1874 | 1874, c. 48. |
Na hAchtanna Ceardchumann, 1871 go 1975 | |
Na hAchtanna um Bainc Thaisce Iontaobhais, 1863 go 1979 | |
Truck Act, 1743 | 1743, c. 8. |
Truck Act, 1831 | 1831, c. 37. |
Truck Amendment Act, 1887 | 1887, c. 46. |
Truck Act, 1896 | 1896, c. 44. |
Number 40 of 1979
PAYMENT OF WAGES ACT, 1979
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Further provisions regarding payment of wages otherwise than in cash. | |
Employers to be given certain statements as regards salary or wages. | |
Number 40 of 1979
PAYMENT OF WAGES ACT, 1979
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“account” includes both a current account and a deposit account (whether described by that name or as a deposit or in any other way);
“the Act of 1831” means the Truck Act, 1831;
“the Act of 1874” means the Hosiery Manufacture (Wages) Act, 1874;
“the Act of 1887” means the Truck Amendment Act, 1887;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Labour;
“trade union” has the same meaning as in the Trade Union Acts, 1871 to 1975;
“wages”, except in section 5 and subject to subsection (2) of this section, means, except where the context otherwise requires, any amount which constitutes wages within the meaning and for the purposes of the Act of 1831 or the Act of 1874.
(2) Section 10 of the Act of 1887 (which applies the provisions of the Act of 1831 and of the first-mentioned Act to certain out-workers not directly employed) shall have like effect for the purposes of this Act as it has for the purposes of those Acts, and references in this Act to employee, to employers and to wages shall be construed accordingly.
(3) References in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as references to that enactment as amended or extended by or under any other enactment.
Application.
2.—This Act, other than sections 5 and 8 (4), applies only to employees as regards the payment of whose wages the provisions of the Act of 1831, or the provisions of that Act as extended by section 10 of the Act of 1887, or the provisions of the Act of 1874, apply.
Payment of wages otherwise than in cash.
3.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other enactment, an instrument or mode of payment to which this section applies may be used by an employer to make a payment of wages to an employee to whom this section applies if either—
(a) (i) the employer, and—
(I) the employee, or
(II) some other person authorised in writing by the employee to sign on his behalf,
sign a document that specifies that mode as the mode of payment of wages to be used, and
(ii) the document indicates that the specified mode of payment will cease to be used—
(I) whenever both the employer and employee so determine, or
(II) at such time as may be specified in a notice in writing given by either of them to the other of them, or, in case the document is signed by a person authorised under this paragraph, given to or by the employer by or to that person or some other person nominated in writing for the purposes of this clause by the employee concerned, but not being less than four weeks after the day on which the notice is received,
or
(b) (i) there is between the employer or an employers' organisation or other body of persons representative of employers (of which the employer is a member) and any trade union or any other body of persons which is recognised for the purpose of collective bargaining negotiations by the employer (of which in either case the employee is a member), an agreement in writing (whether made before or after the passing of this Act) providing that that mode is to be used by the employer, or, in case the agreement is made on behalf of employers who are members of such an organisation or other body so representative, by each such employer, to pay wages to his employees who are members of either the trade union or the other body so recognised, as the case may be, and
(ii) unless there is therein provision for its periodic review, the agreement provides for its termination by either party thereto giving to the other party thereto notice in writing, and
(iii) the period of such notice is specified in the agreement and is a period of not less than four weeks,
and the mode of payment specified in a document under this subsection or in such an agreement may continue to be used until its employment is terminated either in accordance with subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of this subsection or under and in accordance with the agreement, as may be appropriate.
(2) Where immediately before the passing of this Act an instrument or mode of payment to which this section applies was being used to pay wages, then for the purposes of enabling the wages to continue to be so paid, a document complying with the requirements of subsection (1) of this section shall if necessary be deemed to have been signed by the employer and the employee concerned in relation to that mode of payment, and where such a document is deemed under this subsection to have been signed, the mode of payment used immediately before the passing of this Act may continue to be used in the particular case until its employment is terminated in a manner specified in clause (I) or (II) of subsection (1) (a) (ii) of this section.
(3) This section applies to the following instruments and modes of payment, namely—
(a) a cheque, draft or other bill of exchange within the meaning of the Bills of Exchange Act, 1882;
(b) any document issued by a person who maintains an account with the Central Bank of Ireland or a holder of a licence which, though not such a bill of exchange, is intended to enable a person to obtain payment from that bank or that holder of the sum mentioned in the document;
(c) any draft payable on demand drawn by a holder of a licence upon himself, whether payable at the head office or some other office of his bank;
(d) any postal or money order issued by the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs or any document issued by a public officer which is intended to enable a person to obtain payment from a Minister of the Government of the sum mentioned in the document;
(e) any document issued by a person who maintains an account with a trustee savings bank which is intended to enable a person to obtain payment from the bank of the sum mentioned in the document;
(f) a credit transfer;
(g) such other instrument or mode of payment as may be specified for the time being in regulations made by the Minister after consultation with the Minister for Finance.
(4) Every regulation made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
(5) In this section—
“collective bargaining negotiations” means negotiations between any employer, employers' organisation or other body of persons representative of employers on the one hand and any organisation or other body of persons representative of employees on the other hand, being negotiations which are concerned with the remuneration or other terms or conditions of employment, or the working conditions, of employees;
“licence” means a licence granted by the Central Bank of Ireland under section 9 of the Central Bank Act, 1971;
“trustee savings bank” means a trustee savings bank certified under the Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1979.
Further provisions regarding payment of wages otherwise than in cash.
4.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, where an employee to whom this section applies is required to work at a place other than his usual place of employment or is absent from work on leave or with the consent of his employer or by reason of illness, an instrument or mode of payment to which section 3 of this Act applies may be used for the payment of the wages of the employee notwithstanding the fact that a document has not been signed in compliance with section 3 (1) of this Act, or the fact that there is not in force for the time being an agreement referred to in the said section 3 (1) and relevant to the particular case, as may be appropriate.
(2) (a) An employee to whom this section applies may by giving notice in writing to his employer require the employer, for so long as the employee is either—
(i) required to work at a place other than his usual place of employment, or
(ii) absent from work on leave or with the consent of his employer or by reason of illness,
to pay his wages, or cause them to be paid, to him in cash, and in case a notice under this subsection is for the time being in force, subsection (1) of this section shall not apply in relation to the employee.
(b) A notice under paragraph (a) of this subsection shall remain in force until—
(i) it is withdrawn by a notice in writing given to the employer concerned by the employee concerned, or
(ii) the employee concerned ceases to be employed by the employer concerned.
Employees to be given certain statements as regards salary or wages.
5.—(1) Where an employer makes a deduction from the amount of any payment of salary or wages he makes to an employee, he shall give, or cause to be given, to the employee a statement in writing indicating the gross amount of the salary or wages payable and the nature and amount of the deduction, and in case such a statement is so given, the employer concerned shall take such reasonable steps as are necessary to ensure that both the matter to which the statement relates, and the statement before it is given to the employee, are treated confidentially.
(2) A statement under this section shall be given to the employee concerned—
(a) if the relevant payment is made by credit transfer or by any other mode of payment whereby an amount is credited to an account specified by the employee, as soon as may be,
(b) if such payment is made by any other mode of payment, at the time of the payment.
(3) The foregoing provisions of this section are in addition to and not in substitution for sections 2 (2) (b), 3 (2) (b) and 6 (3) of the Truck Act, 1896.
(4) Where a statement is given to an employee which contains an error in, or an omission from, the particulars required by this section, the statement shall be regarded as complying with the requirements of this section if it is shown that the error or omission was made by way of a clerical mistake or was otherwise made accidentally and in good faith.
(5) This section shall come into force on such day as the Minister shall fix by order.
Certain deductions prohibited.
6.—It shall not be lawful for an employer to make from any wages paid to an employee to whom this section applies any deduction by reason only of their being paid otherwise than in cash.
Certain terms or conditions null and void.
7.—Any term or condition of an agreement whereby a person is required—
(a) for the purposes of section 3 of this Act to sign, or to authorise another to sign on his behalf, a document referred to in the said section 3,
(b) not to terminate the use of an instrument or a mode of payment of wages which both is an instrument or a mode of payment specified in that section and is being used to make payments of wages to an employee to whom that section applies,
shall be null and void.
Savers and defence.
8.—(1) Where an instrument or mode of payment to which section 3 of this Act applies is used as the mode of paying wages to an employee to whom this section applies, the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) none of the following enactments shall apply to wages whose payment is effected by that mode, namely, the Truck Act, 1743, section 20 of the County Works (Ireland) Act, 1846, or section 1 of the Act of 1874,
(b) no action or other legal proceedings shall be instituted under section 4 of the Act of 1831 in respect of wages whose payment is effected by that mode or in respect of a lawful deduction taken into account in calculating that payment,
(c) no proceedings for a penalty in respect of a payment of wages effected by that mode shall be instituted under either section 9 of the Act of 1831 or section 3 of the Act of 1874.
(2) For the purposes of section 9 of the Act of 1831 (whereby it is an offence to enter into any contract or make any payment which by that Act is declared illegal) the following provisions shall have effect:
(a) neither—
(i) a payment made in pursuance of this Act by means of an instrument or mode of payment to which this Act applies, nor
(ii) the signing of a document in pursuance of section 3 of this Act,
shall be regarded as being a contract or a payment so declared illegal,
and
(b) a contract to which section 1 of the Act of 1831 applies shall not be regarded as being a contract so declared illegal by reason only of the fact that it incorporates or otherwise includes all or any of the terms contained in an agreement referred to in section 3 (1) of this Act.
(3) For so long as—
(a) an arrangement described in subsection (1) of section 3 of this Act is in force, or, having regard to subsection (2) of that section, exists by implication, or
(b) a notice under section 4 of this Act is in force,
section 1 of the Act of 1874 shall not have effect as regards any payment of wages, whether made pursuant to the arrangement or otherwise, by the employer concerned to the employee concerned.
(4) Nothing in any statute which is referred to in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting, or as ever having prohibited, the making by an employer of a deduction from any wages where the deduction is or was made with the consent of the person to whom the wages are or were payable.
(5) In any proceedings under section 4 or 9 of the Act of 1831 or under section 3 of the Act of 1874 it shall be a good defence for the defendant to prove that he reasonably believed that the mode used to effect the payment of wages to which the proceedings relate was an instrument or mode of payment to which section 3 of this Act applies.
Short title.
9.—This Act may be cited as the Payment of Wages Act, 1979.
Acts Referred to | |
Bills of Exchange Act, 1882 | 1882, c. 61 |
1971, No. 24 | |
County Works (Ireland) Act, 1846 | 1846, c. 2 |
Hosiery Manufacture (Wages) Act, 1874 | 1874, c. 48 |
Trade Union Acts, 1871 to 1975 | |
Trustee Savings Banks Acts, 1863 to 1979 | |
Truck Act, 1743 | 1743, c. 8. |
Truck Act, 1831 | 1831, c. 37. |
Truck Amendment Act, 1887 | 1887, c. 46. |
Truck Act, 1896 | 1896, c. 44. |