Labour Court recommends applying catering industry working-time rules at Tara Mines

The Labour Court recommended that Compass Catering Services Ltd and Services Industrial Professional Technical Union organise working time at the Tara Mines catering site in line with the Catering Industry Employment Regulation Order. The recommendation was signed on 27 October 2009. The union sought retrospective recognition of a 39-hour week, arguing that a daily 15-minute break was unpaid. The company said paid breaks meant workers effectively worked 38 hours and 45 minutes a week. The Court recommended that the parties determine whether paid breaks count toward the order’s normal 39-hour week, then apply that arrangement to the claimants.