Sectoral Employment Orders

Sectoral Employment Orders 

Following a request from a trade union or employers’ organisation, the Labour Court can conduct an examination of the terms and conditions relating to the remuneration and any sick pay scheme or pension scheme in relation to a particular sector of the economy.  A ‘sectoral employment order’ (SEO) may set out minimum pay rates as well as pension and sick pay schemes for an economic sector.  This is defined as a “sector of the economy concerned with a specific economic activity requiring specific qualifications, skills or knowledge”

Having considered such a request, the Labour Court can make a recommendation, or refuse to make a recommendation, to the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to make a sectoral employment order (SEO).  Where the Minister has made a sectoral employment order in relation to a class, type or group of workers in a particular economic sector, the Court cannot consider a request in relation to the same class, type or group of workers in that sector, until at least 12 months after the date of the order, unless the Court is satisfied that exceptional and compelling circumstances exist which justify consideration of an earlier request.

A Section 14 Application Form to examine the terms and conditions of an Employment Sectoral Order should be completed and sent to the Labour Court for consideration of the request.

Labour Court Sectoral Employment Order Rules 2016