Courts / Ireland / Report

Labour Party's small business spokesperson underpaid permit worker

Summary

The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicated a complaint by Patricia Oropeza-Vedia against Juliet O'Connell, finding multiple breaches of employment rights. Adjudicator Catherine Byrne determined that O'Connell's firm, The Zip Yard, underpaid the worker, who was employed as a permit worker. The tribunal found a gross wage shortfall of €6,016 between February 2022 and February 2023, as the worker was paid approximately €460 weekly against a contractual salary of €30,000. The adjudicator awarded €7,378 under the Payment of Wages Act 1991, including back pay and 67 hours of overtime. Additionally, the employer was ordered to pay €1,154 for unpaid annual leave and a further €1,154 in compensation under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. A further €1,731 was awarded for a breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, citing a mismatch between the job description and actual duties. The total award was €11,417. O'Connell, who appeared as respondent-in-person, disputed the claims but failed to provide sufficient evidence. Following the decision, the Labour Party stated that O'Connell, its former small business spokesperson, had resigned from the party and would not stand in local elections. The party noted it learned of the adjudication via a press query and affirmed its commitment to workers' rights.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Labour Party's small business spokesperson underpaid permit worker. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• December 2020 Other
• 7 February 2023 Other
• November 2019 Other
• August 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• August 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 2022 Other
• 2024-04-19 Publication

Why: She said she resigned on 7 February 2023 because she was afraid of being deported if found to be working illegally. CNI source report

Case subjects

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Read the original CNI report