Fran Matthews awarded €8,750 for employment terms breach by Metropolitan Films International Limited

The Workplace Relations Commission awarded Fran Matthews €8,750 after finding that Metropolitan Films International Limited failed to provide correct written employment terms. It also found his complaint for wages during lay-off was not well founded; a separate working-time complaint was withdrawn. In a decision dated 15 December 2023, WRC adjudication officer Catherine Byrne found Matthews was employed by Metropolitan Films International Limited, despite the company’s argument that he worked for separate production companies. Matthews, a plasterer on film and television productions, said he had worked for the company and associated businesses since 2000. He said he was not recalled after a lay-off and believed this was linked to his union membership. The WRC found he was laid off between productions and dismissed on 1 December 2019, when he was not recalled. The employment document presented by the company gave the wrong employer name and address and an incorrect start date. Matthews said he had not received or signed it. The award was four weeks’ pay. The WRC rejected the wage complaint because wages were not properly payable while Matthews did no work during lay-off, and found the complaints were submitted in time.