WRC dismisses plasterer’s pay complaint after finding he was self-employed

The WRC found that Evgheni Reulet could not use the Payment of Wages Act because he was a self-employed contractor, and dismissed his complaint against Conor Prunty. The decision was dated 5 September 2022. Reulet said he had worked as a plasterer, agreed a rate of €25 an hour that was later reduced to €22, and was not paid for his final two weeks. He supplied Revenue documentation showing he was self-employed. The adjudication officer found he was not an employee under the Act and was therefore outside its protections. Prunty did not attend the hearing. The WRC’s finding turned on Reulet’s employment status; the merits of his pay claim were not decided.