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Uimhir 4 de 1973
AN tACHT UM FHÓGRA ÍOSTA AGUS TÉARMAÍ FOSTAÍOCHTA, 1973
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
[9 Bealtaine, 1973]
Léiriú.
1967. Uimh. 21.
1.—San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “Acht 1967” an tAcht um Íocaíochtaí Iomarcaíochta, 1967;
ciallaíonn “fostaí” duine a chuaigh faoi chonradh nó a oibríonn faoi chonradh le fostóir, cibé acu is conradh é le haghaidh obair láimhe, obair chléireachais nó eile, nó conradh sainráite nó conradh intuigthe, nó conradh ó bhéal nó conradh i scríbhinn nó conradh seirbhíse nó conradh printíseachta nó eile, agus forléireofar focail ghaolmhara dá réir sin;
tá leis an mbriathar “asleagan” an bhrí a shanntar dó le hAcht 1967;
tá leis an mbriathar “frithdhúnadh” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Cuid II d'Acht 1967;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Saothair;
ciallaíonn “forordaithe” forordaithe le rialacháin arna ndéanamh ag an Aire faoin Acht seo;
tá le “gearr-am” an bhrí a shanntar dó le hAcht 1967;
tá le “stailc” an bhrí a shanntar dó le Cuid II d'Acht 1967;
ciallaíonn “an Binse” an Binse a bunaíodh faoi Acht 1967;
ciallaíonn “seachtain” aon tréimhse seacht lá as a chéile;
ciallaíonn “bliain” aon tréimhse dhá sheachtain is caoga.
Tosach feidhme.
2.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.
Gan feidhm a bheith ag an Acht.
1894, c. 60.
3.—(1) Ní bhainfidh an tAcht seo—
(a) le fostaíocht fostaí a gceaptar dó de ghnáth oibriú don fhostóir céanna ar feadh tréimhse is lú ná uair a chloig is fiche sa tseachtain,
(b) le fostaíocht a thugann fostóir d'fhostaí arb é athair, máthair, seanathair, seanmháthair, leasathair, leasmháthair, mac, iníon, garmhac, gariníon, leasmhac, leasiníon, deartháir, deirfiúr, deartháir leasghaolmhar nó deirfiúr leasghaolmhar an fhostaí é agus ar duine de theaghlach an fhostaí é agus arb é an t-ionad fostaíochta atá aige teach cónaithe príobháideach nó feirm ina bhfuil nó ar a bhfuil cónaí ar an bhfostaí agus ar an bhfostóir araon,
(c) le fostaíocht sa Státseirbhís (seachas i bpost neamhbhunaithe) de réir brí Acht Choimisinéirí na Stát-Sheirbhíse, 1956,
(d) le fostaíocht mar chomhalta de na Buan-Óglaigh (seachas mar chomhalta sealadach de Sheirbhís Altranais an Airm),
(e) le fostaíocht mar chomhalta den Gharda Síochána, ná
(f) le fostaíocht faoi chomhaontú fostaíochta de bhun Chuid II nó Chuid IV den Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire le hordú a dhearbhú nach mbeidh feidhm ag aon fhoráil áirithe den Acht seo maidir le haicme nó le haicmí fostaíochta a shonrófar san ordú agus amhail ó thosach feidhme an ordaithe ní bheidh feidhm ag an Acht seo maidir leis an aicme nó na haicmí sin.
(3) D'ainneoin fho-alt (1) nó (2) den alt seo, féadfaidh an tAire le hordú a dhearbhú go mbeidh feidhm ag aon fhoráil áirithe den Acht seo maidir le haicme nó le haicmí fostaíochta a shonrófar san ordú agus amhail ó thosach feidhme an ordaithe beidh feidhm ag an Acht seo maidir leis an aicme nó na haicmí sin.
(4) Féadfaidh go mbeidh in ordú a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin alt seo cibé forálacha, idir fhorálacha eatramhacha agus fhorálacha eile forlíontacha agus teagmhasacha, is dóigh leis an Aire a bheith riachtanach nó fóirsteanach.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú a rinneadh faoin alt seo, lena n-áirítear an fo-alt seo, a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
Tréimhseíosta fógra.
4.—(1) Déanfaidh fostóir, d'fhonn deireadh a chur le conradh fostaíochta fostaí atá ina sheirbhís go leanúnach le tréimhse trí sheachtain déag nó níos mó, tréimhse íosta fógra arna ríomh de réir forálacha fho-alt (2) den alt seo a thabhairt don fhostaí sin.
(2) Is é an fógra íosta a thabharfaidh fostóir chun conradh fostaíochta a fhostaí a fhoirceannadh—
(a) i gcás an fostaí a bheith i seirbhís a fhostóra go leanúnach le tréimhse is lú ná dhá bhliain, seachtain amháin,
(b) i gcás an fostaí a bheith i seirbhís a fhostóra go leanúnach le tréimhse dhá bhliain nó níos mó ach is lú ná cúig bliana, dhá sheachtain,
(c) i gcás an fostaí a bheith i seirbhís a fhostóra go leanúnach le tréimhse cúig bliana nó níos mó ach is lú ná deich mbliana, ceithre sheachtain,
(d) i gcás an fostaí a bheith i seirbhís a fhostóra go leanúnach le tréimhse deich mbliana nó níos mó ach is lú ná cúig bliana déag, sé sheachtain,
(e) i gcás an fostaí a bheith i seirbhís a fhostóra go leanúnach le tréimhse cúig bliana déag nó níos mó, ocht seachtain.
(3) Beidh feidhm ag forálacha an Chéad Sceidil a ghabhann leis an Acht seo chun tréimhse seirbhíse fostaí a fhionnadh agus chun a fhionnadh ar sheirbhís leanúnach an tseirbhís sin.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire an tréimhse íosta fógra a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo a athrú le hordú.
(5) Aon fhoráil i gconradh fostaíochta, arna dhéanamh roimh dháta thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis, agus lena ndéantar socrú le haghaidh tréimhse fógra is lú ná an tréimhse fógra a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (2) den alt seo, beidh éifeacht aici amhail is dá mbeadh socrú déanta leis an gconradh sin le haghaidh tréimhse fógra de réir an ailt seo.
(6) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú faoin alt seo, lena n-áirítear an fo-alt seo, a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
Cearta fostaí le linn tréimhse fógra.
5.—(1) Beidh éifeacht ag forálacha an Dara Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo maidir le dliteanas fostóra le linn tréimhse an fhógra a cheanglaítear leis an Acht seo a thabhairt—
(a) ag fostóir chun deireadh a chur le conradh fostaíochta fostaí atá ina sheirbhís go leanúnach le trí sheachtain déag nó níos mó, agus
(b) ag fostaí atá i seirbhís go leanúnach amhlaidh chun deireadh a chur lena chonradh fostaíochta leis an bhfostóir sin.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag an alt seo in aon chás ina dtabharfaidh fostaí fógra chun a chonradh fostaíochta a fhoirceannadh mar fhreagra ar fhógra asleagain nó gearr-ama arna thabhairt ag a fhostóir.
(3) Aon fhoráil i gconradh a airbheartaíonn an oibleagáid a fhorchuirtear ar fhostóir leis an alt seo a eisiamh nó a theorannú beidh sí ar neamhní.
Ceart an fhostóra chun fógra.
6.—Beidh teideal ag fostóir, faoi réir cheart fostaí frith-fhógra a thabhairt faoi alt 10 d'Acht 1967 nó fógra a thabhairt go bhfuil sé chun íocaíocht iomarcaíochta a éileamh i leith asleagain nó gearrama faoi alt 12 den Acht sin, chun fógra seachtaine ar a laghad ó fhostaí atá ar fostaíocht aige go leanúnach le trí sheachtain déag nó níos mó go bhfuil an fostaí sin lena chonradh fostaíochta a fhoirceannadh.
An ceart chun fógra a tharscaoileadh.
7.—(1) Ní oibreoidh aon ní san Acht seo chun fostaí nó fostóir a chosc ar a cheart chun fógra a tharscaoileadh ar ócáid ar bith nó ar íocaíocht a ghlacadh in ionad fógra.
(2) In aon chás ina nglacfaidh fostaí le híocaíocht in ionad fógra, measfar, chun críocha Acht 1967, gurb é dáta foirceanta fhostaíocht an duine sin an dáta a rachadh fógra in éag dá mba gur tugadh fógra.
An ceart chun conradh fostaíochta a fhoirceannadh gan fógra.
8.—Ní dhéanfaidh aon ní san Acht seo difear do cheart aon fhostóra nó aon fhostaí chun conradh fostaíochta a fhoirceannadh gan fógra mar gheall ar mhí-iompar ag an bpáirtí eile.
Ráiteas i scríbhinn ar théarmaí fostaíochta.
9.—(1) Féadfaidh fostaí, d'fhonn aon cheann dá théarmaí fostaíochta (lena n-áirítear dáta tosaigh na fostaíochta sin) a fhionnadh nó a chinntiú, a cheangal ar a fhostóir ráiteas i scríbhinn a thabhairt dó ina mbeidh na sonraí seo a leanas go léir nó aon chuid acu maidir leis na nithe seo a leanas, is é sin le rá—
(a) dáta tosaigh a fhostaíochta,
(b) ráta nó modh ríofa a luach saothair,
(c) fad na tréimhse idir na tráthanna a íoctar an luach saothair, cibé acu is seachtain, mí nó tréimhse ar bith eile í,
(d) aon téarmaí nó coinníollacha a bhaineann le huaire oibre nó le breis-am,
(e) aon téarmaí nó coinníollacha a bhaineann—
(i) le saoire agus le pá saoire,
(ii) le héagumas chun oibre mar gheall ar thinneas nó gortú agus le pá breoiteachta, agus
(iii) le pinsin agus le scéimeanna pinsin,
(f) tréimhse an fhógra nach foláir don fhostaí a thabhairt agus atá sé i dteideal a fháil chun a chonradh fostaíochta a fhoirceannadh, nó (más conradh go ceann téarma chinnte an conradh fostaíochta) an dáta a rachaidh an conradh sin in éag.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, a fhoráil go bhféadfaidh fostaithe a cheangal ar a bhfostóirí cibé sonraí breise nó sonraí eile a shonraítear san ordú a thabhairt maidir lena gconarthaí fostaíochta.
(3) Faoi réir fho-alt (4) den alt seo, déanfaidh fostóir, laistigh de mhí ón tráth a ceanglaíodh air faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo sin a dhéanamh, ráiteas i scríbhinn de réir an fho-ailt sin a thabhairt dá fhostaí.
(4) In ionad na sonraí a thabhairt a iarrfaidh an fostaí faoin alt seo, féadfaidh go n-iarrfaidh ráiteas ó fhostóir faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo ar an bhfostaí breathnú ar dhoiciméad ina mbeidh na sonraí sin le fáil is doiciméad a mbeidh deis réasúnach ag an bhfostaí é a léamh i gcúrsa a fhostaíochta nó a mbeidh fáil réasúnach aige air ar bhealach éigin eile.
(5) Déanfaidh fostóir, laistigh de mhí tar éis d'fhostaí tosú ar obair leis an bhfostóir sin, na sonraí a shonraítear san alt seo a thabhairt don fhostaí sin.
(6) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú faoin alt seo, lena n-áirítear an fo-alt seo, a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
An fostóir do loiceadh ráiteas a thabhairt.
10.—(1) Fostóir nach gcomhlíonfaidh forálacha alt 9 den Acht seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo agus ar a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná cúig phunt is fiche a chur air.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire ionchúiseamh a dhéanamh i leith cion faoin alt seo.
Díospóidí a tharchur chun an Bhinse.
11.—(1) Aon díospóid a éireoidh maidir le haon ní faoin Acht seo (seachas díospóid a éireoidh maidir le haon ní faoi alt 9 den Acht seo) tarchuirfear í ar an modh forordaithe chun an Bhinse.
(2) Is cinneadh críochnaitheach dochloíte a bheidh i gcinneadh an Bhinse ar aon ní a tharchuirfear chuige faoin alt seo, ach amháin go bhféadfaidh aon duine a bheidh míshásta leis an gcinneadh achomharc i gcoinne an chéanna a dhéanamh chun na hArd-Chúirte ar cheist dlí.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire, ar iarratas ón mBinse, aon cheist dlí a tharchur le haghaidh cinneadh na hArd-Chúirte.
Cearta fostaí ar mhainneachtain ag fostóir.
12.—(1) Más rud é—
(a) nach dtabharfaidh fostóir d'fhostaí an fógra a cheanglaítear le halt 4 (2) den Acht seo, nó
(b) nach gcomhlíonfaidh sé forálacha alt 5 den Acht seo maidir le cearta an fhostaí le linn na tréimhse fógra,
féadfaidh an fostaí an t-ábhar a tharchur chun an Bhinse le haghaidh eadrána agus féadfaidh an Binse cúiteamh a dhámhachtain don fhostaí in aon chaillteanas a bhain dó de dheasca mhainneachtain an fhostóra.
(2) Beidh méid aon chúitimh a bheidh dáfa ag an mBinse faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo inghnóthaithe ag an bhfostaí óna fhostóir mar fhiach conartha shimplí i gcúirt dlínse inniúla.
(3) Féadfaidh an tAire nó ceardchumann fostaí imeachtaí a thionscnamh agus a chothabháil thar ceann an fhostaí sin chun aon suim a ghnóthú a bheidh dlite ar mhodh cúitimh arna dámhachtain ag an mBinse faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo.
Forálacha maidir le foirceannadh agus féimheacht.
1889, c. 60.
13.—(1) Nuair a bheidh dáileadh á dhéanamh ar shócmhainní cuideachta a bheidh á foirceannadh, áireofar ar na fiacha a bheidh, faoi alt 285 d'Acht na gCuideachtaí, 1963, le híoc i dtosaíocht ar gach fiach eile, an cúiteamh go léir is iníoctha faoi alt 12 den Acht seo ag an gcuideachta le fostaí, agus beidh éifeacht dá réir sin ag an Acht sin, agus ní éileofar cruthúnas foirmiúil ar na fiacha dá dtugtar tosaíocht faoin bhfo-alt seo ach amháin i gcásanna dá bhforálfar a mhalairt le rialacha arna ndéanamh faoin Acht sin.
(2) Nuair a bheidh dáileadh á dhéanamh ar mhaoin féimhigh nó féichiúnaí comhshocraíochta, áireofar ar na fiacha a bheidh, faoi alt 4 den Preferential Payments in Bankruptcy (Ireland) Act, 1889, le híoc i dtosaíocht ar gach fiach eile, an cúiteamh go léir is iníoctha faoi alt 12 den Acht seo ag an bhféimheach nó ag an bhféichiúnaí comhshocraíochta, de réir mar a bheidh, le fostaí, agus beidh éifeacht dá réir sin ag an Acht sin, agus ní éileofar cruthúnas foirmiúil ar na fiacha dá dtugtar tosaíocht faoin bhfo-alt seo ach amháin i gcásanna dá bhforálfar a mhalairt le horduithe ginearálta arna ndéanamh faoin Acht sin.
Rialacháin.
14.—Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh maidir le haon ní a ndeirtear san Acht seo gur ní forordaithe é.
Rialacháin agus dréacht-orduithe áirithe a leagan faoi bhráid Tithe an Oireachtais.
15.—(1) Aon uair a bheartaítear ordú a dhéanamh faoi alt 3, 4 nó 9 den Acht seo, leagfar dréacht den ordú beartaithe faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas agus ní dhéanfar an t-ordú nó go rithfidh dhá Theach an Oireachtais rún ag ceadú an dréachta.
(2) Gach rialachán a dhéanfar faoin Acht 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 rialachán 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.
Caiteachais an Aire.
16.—Is as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, a íocfar aon chaiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo.
Gearrtheideal.
17.—Féadfar an tAcht um Fhógra Íosta agus Téarmaí Fostaíochta, 1973, a ghairm den Acht seo.
AN CHEAD SCEIDEAL
Seirbhís Leanúnach a Ríomh
Leanúnachas Seirbhíse
1. Measfar gur seirbhís leanúnach seirbhís fostaí ina fhostaíocht mura bhfoirceanntar an fhostaíocht sin—
(a) tríd an bhfostóir do bhriseadh an fhostaí as a phost, nó
(b) tríd an bhfostaí d'fhágail a fhostaíochta dá dheoin féin.
2. Ní hionann frithdhúnadh agus an fostaí a bhriseadh as a phost ag a fhostóir.
3. Ní hionann asleagan agus fostóir d'fhoirceannadh seirbhíse a fhostaí.
4. Ní hionann stailc ag fostaí agus an fostaí sin d'fhágáil a fhostaíochta dá dheoin féin.
5. Fostaí a mbeidh fógra tugtha aige go bhfuil beartaithe aige íocaíocht iomarcaíochta a éileamh i leith asleagain nó gearr-ama measfar gur fhág sé a fhostaíocht dá dheoin féin.
6. Ní bhrisfear seirbhís leanúnach fostaí ina fhostaíocht má bhriseann a fhostóir an fostaí as a phost agus go n-athfhostófar an fostaí láithreach.
7. Má aistrítear trádáil nó gnó ó dhuine amháin go dtí duine eile (cibé acu roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo nó dá éis don aistriú sin) measfar gur seirbhís leanúnach leis an aistrí seirbhís leanúnach fostaí sa trádáil nó sa ghnó sin tráth an aistrithe agus ní oibreoidh an t-aistriú chun leanúnachas seirbhís an fhostaí a bhriseadh.
Seirbhís Inríofa
8. Nuair a bheidh tréimhse seirbhíse á ríomh ní áireofar aon seachtain nach gceaptar de ghnáth do fhostaí oibriú ar feadh uair a chloig is fiche ar a laghad nó níos mó.
9. Má bhíonn fostaí as láthair óna fhostaíocht mar gheall ar sheirbhís sna hÓglaigh Cúltaca, áireofar gur tréimhse seirbhíse an tréimhse asláithreachta sin.
10. Má bhíonn fostaí as láthair óna fhostaíocht ar feadh tréimhse nach mó ná sé sheachtain is fiche idir tréimhsí fostaíochta as a chéile—
(a) mar gheall ar asleagan,
(b) mar gheall ar thinneas nó gortú, nó
(c) trí chomhaontú lena fhostóir,
áireofar gur tréimhse seirbhíse an tréimhse sin.
11. Más rud é, in aon seachtain nó cuid de sheachtain, go mbeidh fostaí as láthair óna fhostaíocht toisc é a bheith ag glacadh páirt i stailc i ndáil leis an trádáil nó leis an ngnó ina bhfuil sé fostaithe, ní áireofar gur tréimhse seirbhíse an tseachtain sin.
12. Más rud é, in aon seachtain nó cuid de sheachtain, go mbeidh fostaí as láthair óna fhostaíocht de bhíthin frithdhúnadh ag a fhostóir, áireofar gur tréimhse seirbhíse an tseachtain sin.
13. Más rud é, in aon seachtain nó cuid de sheachtain, go mbeidh fostaí as láthair óna fhostaíocht de bhíthin stailc nó frithdhúnadh i dtrádáil nó i ngnó seachas an trádáil nó an gnó ina bhfuil sé féin fostaithe, áireofar gur tréimhse seirbhíse an tseachtain sin.
AN DARA SCEIDEAL
Cearta Fostaí le linn na Tréimhse Fógra
1. Faoi réir forálacha an Sceidil seo, beidh fostaí, le linn na tréimhse fógra, á íoc ag a fhostóir de réir téarmaí a chonartha fostaíochta agus beidh aige na cearta céanna chun saoire breoiteachta nó saoire le pá a bheadh aige dá mba nár tugadh fógra ag foirceannadh a chonartha fostaíochta.
Fostaíochtaí a bhfuil gnáth-uaire oibre ceaptha dóibh
2. (a) (i) Íocfaidh fostóir a fhostaí i leith aon ama i gcaitheamh a ghnáth-uaire oibre a mbeidh sé faoi réir chun oibre agus toilteanach obair a dhéanamh ach nach soláthróidh a fhostóir aon obair dó.
(ii) San fhomhír seo folaíonn “gnáth-uaire oibre”, i gcás fostaí a gceaptar dó de ghnáth obair bhreis-ama a dhéanamh, na huaire ar lena linn a dhéantar an obair bhreis-ama sin de ghnáth.
(b) In aon chás nach faoi threoir ama ar fad a ríomhtar pá fostaí, déanfar an pá a cheanglaítear ar a fhostóir a íoc leis faoi fhomhír (a) a ríomh faoi threoir an mheánráta pá a thuill an fostaí i leith aon ama a oibríodh i gcaitheamh na dtrí sheachtain déag díreach roimh an bhfógra a thabhairt.
Fostaíochtaí nach bhfuil gnáth-uaire oibre ceaptha dóibh
3. Faoi réir mhír 4 den Sceideal seo, íocfaidh fostóir le fostaí, i gcás gan aon ghnáth-uaire oibre a bheith ceaptha don fhostaí sin faoin gconradh fostaíochta a bheidh i bhfeidhm sa tréimhse fógra, i leith gach seachtain sa tréimhse fógra, suim nach lú ná meántuilleamh seachtainiúil an fhostaí sna trí sheachtain déag díreach roimh an bhfógra a thabhairt.
4. Ní dhlífear d'fhostóir aon suim a íoc lena fhostaí faoi mhír 3 den Sceideal seo mura mbeidh an fostaí faoi réir chun oibre agus toilteanach méid réasúnach oibre de shórt réasúnach a dhéanamh chun luach saothair a thuilleamh de réir an ráta a luaitear sa mhír sin 3.
Number 4 of 1973
MINIMUM NOTICE AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT ACT, 1973
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Laying of Regulations and certain draft orders before Houses of Oireachtas. | |
Computation of Continuous Service
Rights of Employee During Period of Notice
Acts Referred to | |
1967, No. 21 | |
1956, No. 45 | |
Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 | 1894, c. 60 |
1963, No. 33 | |
Preferential Payments in Bankruptcy (Ireland) Act, 1889 | 1889, c. 60 |
Number 4 of 1973
MINIMUM NOTICE AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT ACT, 1973
Interpretation.
1.—In this Act—
“the Act of 1967” means the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967;
“employee” means an individual who has entered into or works under a contract with an employer, whether the contract be for manual labour, clerical work or otherwise, whether it be expressed or implied, oral or in writing, and whether it be a contract of service or of apprenticeship or otherwise, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;
“lay-off” has the meaning assigned to it by the Act of 1967;
“lock-out” has the meaning assigned to it by Part II of the Act of 1967;
“Minister” means the Minister for Labour;
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under this Act;
“short-time” has the meaning assigned to it by the Act of 1967;
“strike” has the meaning assigned to it by Part II of the Act of 1967;
“the Tribunal” means the Tribunal established under the Act of 1967;
“week” means any period of seven consecutive days;
“year” means any period of fifty-two weeks.
Commencement.
2.—This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister appoints by order.
Non-application of Act.
3.—(1) This Act shall not apply to—
(a) employment of an employee who is normally expected to work for the same employer for less than twenty-one hours in a week,
(b) employment by an employer of an employee who is the father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, stepfather, stepmother, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, stepson, stepdaughter, brother, sister, halfbrother or halfsister of the employer and who is a member of the employer's household and whose place of employment is a private dwellinghouse or a farm in or on which both the employee and the employer reside,
(c) employment in the Civil Service (other than in an unestablished position) within the meaning of the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956,
(d) employment as a member of the Permanent Defence Forces (other than a temporary member of the Army Nursing Service),
(e) employment as a member of the Garda Síochána, and
(f) employment under an employment agreement pursuant to Part II or Part IV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.
(2) The Minister may by order declare that any provision of this Act shall not apply to a class or classes of employment specified in the order and from the commencement of the order this Act shall not apply to that class or those classes.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the Minister may by order declare that any provision of this Act shall apply to a class or classes of employment specified in the order and from the commencement of the order this Act shall apply to that class or those classes.
(4) An order made by the Minister under this section may include such transitional and other supplemental and incidental provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or expedient.
(5) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order made under this section, including this subsection.
Minimum period of notice.
4.—(1) An employer shall, in order to terminate the contract of employment of an employee who has been in his continuous service for a period of thirteen weeks or more, give to that employee a minimum period of notice calculated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The minimum notice to be given by an employer to terminate the contract of employment of his employee shall be—
(a) if the employee has been in the continuous service of his employer for less than two years, one week,
(b) if the employee has been in the continuous service of his employer for two years or more, but less than five years, two weeks,
(c) if the employee has been in the continuous service of his employer for five years or more, but less than ten years, four weeks,
(d) if the employee has been in the continuous service of his employer for ten years or more, but less than fifteen years, six weeks,
(e) if the employee has been in the continuous service of his employer for fifteen years or more, eight weeks.
(3) The provisions of the First Schedule to this Act shall apply for the purposes of ascertaining the period of service of an employee and whether that service has been continuous.
(4) The Minister may by order vary the minimum period of notice specified in subsection (2) of this section.
(5) Any provision in a contract of employment, whether made before or after the commencement of this Act, which provides for a period of notice which is less than the period of notice specified in subsection (2) of this section, shall have effect as if that contract provided for a period of notice in accordance with this section.
(6) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this section including this subsection.
Rights of employee during period of notice.
5.—(1) The provisions of the Second Schedule to this Act shall have effect in relation to the liability of an employer during the period of notice required by this Act to be given—
(a) by an employer to terminate the contract of employment of an employee who has been in his continuous service for thirteen weeks or more, and
(b) by an employee who has been in such continuous service to terminate his contract of employment with that employer.
(2) This section shall not apply in any case where an employee gives notice to terminate his contract of employment in response to a notice of lay-off or short-time given by his employer.
(3) Any provision in a contract which purports to exclude or limit the obligation imposed on an employer by this section shall be void.
Right of employer to notice.
6.—An employer shall, subject to the right of an employee to give counter-notice under section 10 of the Act of 1967 or to give notice of intention to claim redundancy payment in respect of lay-off or short-time under section 12 of that Act, be entitled to not less than one week's notice from an employee who has been in his continuous employment for thirteen weeks or more of that employee's intention to terminate his contract of employment.
Right to waive notice.
7.—(1) Nothing in this Act shall operate to prevent an employee or an employer from waiving his right to notice on any occasion or from accepting payment in lieu of notice.
(2) In any case where an employee accepts payment in lieu of notice, the date of termination of that person's employment shall, for the purposes of the Act of 1967, be deemed to be the date on which notice, if given, would have expired.
Right to terminate contract of employment without notice.
8.—Nothing in this Act shall affect the right of any employer or employee to terminate a contract of employment without notice because of misconduct by the other party.
Written statement of terms of employment.
9.—(1) An employee may, for the purposes of ascertaining or confirming any term of his employment (including the date of commencement of that employment), require his employer to furnish him with a written statement containing all or any of the following particulars in relation to the following matters, that is to say—
(a) the date of commencement of his employment,
(b) the rate or method of calculation of his remuneration,
(c) the length of the intervals between the times at which remuneration is paid, whether weekly, monthly or any other period,
(d) any terms or conditions relating to hours of work or over-time,
(e) any terms or conditions relating to—
(i) holidays and holiday pay,
(ii) incapacity for work due to sickness or injury and sick pay, and
(iii) pensions and pension schemes,
(f) the period of notice which the employee is obliged to give and entitled to receive to determine his contract of employment, or (if the contract of employment is for a fixed term) the date on which the contract expires.
(2) The Minister may by order provide that employees may require their employers to furnish such further or other particulars of their contracts of employment as may be specified in the order.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) of this section, an employer shall, within one month after he has been required so to do under subsection (1) of this section, furnish to his employee a written statement in accordance with that subsection.
(4) A statement furnished by an employer under subsection (3) of this section may, in lieu of specifying the particulars requested by the employee under this section, refer the employee to a document containing those particulars which the employee has reasonable opportunities of reading during the course of his employment, or which is reasonably accessible to him in some other way.
(5) An employer shall, within one month after an employee commences work with that employer, furnish to that employee the particulars specified in this section.
(6) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order under this section, including this subsection.
Failure of employer to furnish statement.
10.—(1) An employer who fails to comply with the provisions of section 9 of this Act shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds.
(2) An offence under this section may be prosecuted by the Minister.
Reference of disputes to Tribunal.
11.—(1) Any dispute arising on any matter under this Act (other than a dispute arising on any matter under section 9 of this Act) shall be referred in the prescribed manner to the Tribunal.
(2) The decision of the Tribunal on any matter referred to it under this section shall be final and conclusive, save that any person dissatisfied with the decision may appeal therefrom to the High Court on a question of law.
(3) The Minister may, on the request of the Tribunal, refer any question of law for the decision of the High Court.
Rights of employee on default of employer.
12.—(1) If an employer—
(a) fails to give to an employee the notice required by section 4 (2) of this Act, or
(b) fails to comply with the provisions of section 5 of this Act in relation to the rights of the employee during the period of notice,
the employee may refer the matter to the Tribunal for arbitration and the Tribunal may award to the employee compensation for any loss sustained by him by reason of the default of the employer.
(2) The amount of any compensation awarded by the Tribunal under subsection (1) of this section shall be recoverable by the employee from his employer as a simple contract debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(3) Proceedings for the recovery of any sum due by way of compensation awarded by the Tribunal under subsection (1) of this section may be instituted and maintained on behalf of the employee by the Minister or by that employee's trade union.
Provisions relating to winding up and bankruptcy.
13.—(1) There shall be included among the debts which, under section 285 of the Companies Act, 1963, are, in the distribution of the assets of a company being wound up, to be paid in priority to all other debts, all compensation payable under section 12 of this Act by the Company to an employee, and that Act shall have effect accordingly, and formal proof of the debts to which priority is given under this subsection shall not be required except in cases where it may otherwise be provided by rules made under that Act.
(2) There shall be included among the debts which, under section 4 of the Preferential Payments in Bankruptcy (Ireland) Act, 1889, are in the distribution of the property of a bankrupt or arranging debtor, to be paid in priority to all other debts, all compensation payable under section 12 of this Act by the bankrupt or arranging debtor, as the case may be, to an employee, and that Act shall have effect accordingly, and formal proof of the debts to which priority is given under this subsection shall not be required except in cases where it may otherwise be provided by general orders made under the said Act.
Regulations.
14.—The Minister may make regulations in relation to any matter referred to in this Act as prescribed.
Laying of Regulations and certain draft orders before Houses of Oireachtas.
15.—(1) Whenever an order is proposed to be made under section 3, 4, or 9 of this Act, a draft of the proposed order shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the order shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas.
(2) Every regulation made under this Act 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.
Expenses of Minister.
16.—Any expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Short title.
17.—This Act may be cited as the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973.
FIRST SCHEDULE
Computation of Continuous Service.
Continuity of Service
1. The service of an employee in his employment shall be deemed to be continuous unless that service is terminated by—
(a) the dismissal of the employee by his employer, or
(b) the employee voluntarily leaving his employment.
2. A lock-out shall not amount to a dismissal of the employee by his employer.
3. A lay-off shall not amount to the termination by an employer of his employee's service.
4. A strike by an employee shall not amount to that employee's voluntarily leaving his employment.
5. An employee who gives notice of intention to claim redundancy payment in respect of lay-off or short-time shall be deemed to have voluntarily left his employment.
6. The continuous service of an employee in his employment shall not be broken by the dismissal of the employee by his employer followed by the immediate re-employment of the employee.
7. If a trade or business is transferred from one person to another (whether or not such transfer took place before or after the commencement of this Act) the continuous service of an employee in that trade or business at the time of the transfer shall be reckoned as continuous service with the transferee and the transfer shall not operate to break the continuity of the service of the employee.
Computable Service
8. Any week in which an employee is not normally expected to work for at least twenty-one hours or more will not count in computing a period of service.
9. If an employee is absent from his employment by reason of service in the Reserve Defence Force, such period of absence shall count as a period of service.
10. If an employee is absent from his employment for not more than twenty-six weeks between consecutive periods of employment because of—
(a) a lay-off,
(b) sickness or injury, or
(c) by agreement with his employer,
such period shall count as a period of service.
11. If, in any week or part of a week, an employee is absent from his employment because he was taking part in a strike in relation to the trade or business in which he is employed, that week shall not count as a period of service.
12. If, in any week or part of a week, an employee was, for the whole or any part of the week, absent from work because of a lock-out by his employer, that week shall count as a period of service.
13. If, in any week or part of a week, an employee is absent from his employment by reason of a strike or lock-out in a trade or business other than that in which he is employed, that week shall count as a period of service.
SECOND SCHEDULE
Rights of Employee During Period of Notice.
1. Subject to the provisions of this Schedule, an employee shall, during the period of notice, be paid by his employer in accordance with the terms of his contract of employment and shall have the same rights to sick pay or holidays with pay as he would have if notice of termination of his contract of employment had not been given.
Employments for which there are normal working hours
2.(a) (i) An employee shall be paid by his employer in respect of any time during his normal working hours when he is ready and willing to work but no work is provided for him by his employer.
(ii) In this subparagraph “normal working hours” in the case of an employee who is normally expected to work overtime, include the hours during which such overtime is usually worked.
(b) In any case where an employee's pay is not wholly calculated by reference to time, the pay which his employer is bound to pay him under subparagraph (a) shall be calculated by reference to the average rate of pay earned by the employee in respect of any time worked during the thirteen weeks next preceding the giving of notice.
Employments for which there are no normal working hours
3. Subject to paragraph 4 of this Schedule, an employer shall pay to an employee, if there are no normal working hours for that employee under the contract of employment in force in the period of notice, in respect of each week in the period of notice, a sum not less than the average weekly earnings of the employee in the thirteen weeks next preceding the giving of notice.
4. An employer shall not be liable to pay to his employee any sum under paragraph 3 of this Schedule unless the employee is ready and willing to do work of a reasonable nature and amount to earn remuneration at the rate mentioned in the said paragraph 3.