Labour Court recommends talks on public service re-employment restriction

The Labour Court recommended further discussions between the Department of Education & Skills and SIPTU, IFUT, INTO, TUI and ASTI on the two-year re-employment restriction for public servants who receive enhanced redundancy payments. The recommendation was signed on 21 June 2013. The unions said the restriction could harm the careers of people made compulsorily redundant. Management said removing it would undermine the agreement’s cost-saving purpose. The Court recognised a difference between voluntary and compulsory redundancy. The Court recommended exploring a modification for compulsory redundancies where there was no prospect of further or successive engagement. If no agreement was reached, the matter could be referred back to the Court.