In 2003, the Labour Court recommended that Limerick Distributive Trades and Mandate try to agree changes to part-time retail workers’ sick pay. The recommendation was signed on 1 December 2003. The union sought to extend the full-time sick-pay scheme to part-time workers on a pro-rata basis. The employers rejected the claim but said they were prepared to negotiate on the scheme’s benefits. The Court recommended further talks within six weeks. If the parties could not agree, a complaint could be made under the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001.