The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is the state body responsible for ensuring compliance with employment legislation in Ireland.
Inspectors of the WRC act as Authorised Officers for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the Employment Permits Acts including conducting workplace inspections.
The legislation provides that WRC Authorised Officers may, if they consider it necessary, be accompanied by Authorised Officers of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Social Protection and/or members of An Garda Síochána. The legislation also provides for An Garda Síochána, in its own right, to enforce the legislation.
These inspections may include:
- an examination of the accuracy of information and documentation provided in relation to employment permit applications, and
- checks that the conditions attached to the grant of an employment permit (such as job description, remuneration, permitted hours of work) are complied with.
As part of this process (and in line with their statutory powers) WRC inspectors may require employers to produce relevant documentation in support of their application.
The WRC does not prosecute employees who breach the Employment Permits Acts as such persons working without permission are especially vulnerable to labour exploitation. The enforcement of employment permit legislation is a key component in the strategy to significantly reduce the incidence of undocumented work which leads to such exploitation.
Economic Migration Policy Unit
2021