Laois Hire mechanic loses six WRC complaints

The Workplace Relations Commission found against Alan Hetherington on six complaints concerning apprentice pay, discrimination, safety, alleged penalisation and employment information. The decision was dated 23 August 2023. Hetherington said he was paid €8.24 and later €10 an hour as an apprentice, while other apprentices received higher rates. Laois Hire Ltd t/a Laois Hire Services Ltd said its plant-hire and vehicle-maintenance work was outside the sectoral employment order he relied on. The WRC agreed the employer’s work was outside the order. It also found no prima facie case of discrimination, no formal safety complaint required for the penalisation claim, and that the employer had supplied contracts. All six complaints failed.