The Labour Court awarded carpenter Sergejs Baranovs €3,000 after finding his working-time complaint against Solid Building Company Limited well founded. The determination was dated 21 May 2008.
Baranovs had failed to attend an earlier Rights Commissioner hearing, where his complaint failed for lack of prosecution. He appealed that decision, and the Labour Court said the reasons for his absence had been explained to it. The company did not attend the appeal hearing. On Baranovs’s uncontradicted evidence, the Court found the complaint well founded.
Baranovs said he worked as a carpenter from 31 October to 6 December 2006 and received no wages or holiday pay. The award included €418 for holiday pay and €2,582 for the effects of the breaches. The Court said he had faced significant inconvenience and expense in pursuing his rights, and described the company’s conduct as oppressive and exploitative.