Progress on Workplace Relations Reform

The Workplace Relations Act, 2015, has been signed into law, and will commence on 1st October 2015.

The Act provides for the establishment of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) with a full range of functions formerly carried out by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), including Rights Commissioner Service, the Equality Tribunal, the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA). The Act also provides for the Labour Court to be the appellate body to determine, among other matters, appeals against decisions of WRC Adjudication Officers.

Among other provisions of the Act are -

• The transfer of all of the current functions of the Labour Relations Commission to the new WRC (including conciliation, workplace mediation and advisory services);
• The dissolution of the Labour Relations Commission;
• The transfer of the functions of the Director of the Equality Tribunal to the Director General of the WRC;
• The transfer of the functions of the Rights Commissioners & the first instance functions of the EAT to adjudication officers of the WRC;
• The transfer of the EAT’s appellate functions into a reconfigured Labour Court;

For further information regarding the Reform Programme, please see the Minister's announcement of 8th June 2015 and Reform updates on this website HERE.