NERA - The National Employment Rights Authority


article by StaffOrg.com

nera

What will an inspector look for?


  • Employer Registration Number
  • Name and address and PPS Number of each employee
  • Terms of Employment for each employee
  • Payroll details
  • Copies of pay slips
  • Employees job classification
  • Dates of commencement and termination
  • Hours of work (rosters)
  • Register of employees under 18 years of age
  • Holidays & public holidays

Types of Breaches Detected


  • Start and finish times not recorded
  • No statement of terms and conditions
  • Statutory Minimum Rate not paid
  • National Minimum Wage Act
  • Payment of Wages Act - pay slips
  • Non payment of overtime
  • Holidays
  • Incomplete records

  Download a guide to NERA inspections .pdf  



Compliance Rates & Number of NERA Inspections



Sector No of Inspections Compliance Rate (%)
National Minimum Wage 1,328 92%
Payment of Wages 1,939 85%
Organisation of Working Time 1,955 52%
Protection of Young Persons 2,727 99%
Others 3 67%

  27,900 calls/visits/inspections carried out in 2008  



NERA - Employment Law Presentation





Do you need Free advise on Employment issues?



If so you can contact The National Employment Rights Authority. NERA provides information to employees and employers through its information unit. NERA covers many aspects of employment rights including Wages, Holidays and Public Holidays - OWT Act 1997, Working Hours, Redundancy, Dismissal, and Notice.
Contact NERA at:

Lo-call 1890 80 80 90   or   http://www.employmentrights.ie/en/

About Nera



The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) was established on an interim basis by the Government in February 2007 on foot of a commitment in the most recent social partnership agreement, Towards 2016. NERA will be established on a statutory basis in 2008.

NERA aims to secure compliance with employment rights legislation and to foster a culture of compliance in Ireland through five main functions:
  • Information
    The role of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) Information Services is to provide free, unbiased information on employment rights in Ireland to employers, employees and other interested parties.

  • Inspection
    NERA will have a total of 90 inspectors comprising 12 Inspector-Team Managers and 78 Inspectors.

  • Enforcement
    Prosecutions arising from NERA Inspection Services. Where a breach of Employment Rights legislation has been identified NERA’s Inspection Services’ primary role is to seek compliance with the legislation and rectification of the breach. This includes redress for the employees concerned and payment of any arrears due.

  • Prosecution
    Prosecutions arising from NERA Inspection Services. Where a breach of Employment Rights legislation has been identified NERA’s Inspection Services’ primary role is to seek compliance with the legislation and rectification of the breach. This includes redress for the employees concerned and payment of any arrears due.

  • Protection of Young Persons
    The Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996 is designed to protect the health of young workers, and to ensure that work done during the school years does not put their education at risk. The law sets minimum age limits for employment, sets rest intervals and maximum working hours, and prohibits the employment of those under 18 years of age on late night work. Employers must also keep specified records for those workers aged under18.

NERA is an Office of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and has its headquarters in Carlow, with regional offices in Cork, Dublin, Shannon and Sligo. Ger Deering is the Director of NERA, and he is supported in his role by NERA’s Management Team and the staff of the five functions.


StaffOrg.com