Labour Court varies agency worker pay decision for Raymond Furlong

The Labour Court varied a Rights Commissioner decision in Paul Doyle Hire Services Ltd’s appeal against Raymond Furlong’s agency worker pay claim. Furlong can recover the difference between his pay and comparable Greenstar employees’ rates for work from 21 September 2013 to 20 March 2014. Furlong was paid €9 an hour as a helper and €11.50 as a driver. He relied on collective agreement rates of €9.15 and €12.50 respectively. The company accepted he was underpaid but disputed the claim period and sought to offset travel time and subsistence against the arrears. The Court refused to extend the claim period because the delay was not explained or justified. It also ruled that travel time and subsistence could not be offset. The determination was signed on 27 May 2015.