The Labour Court upheld a €2,412 wage arrears award to Gundars Balodis after Carrabine Joinery Limited appealed a Rights Commissioner’s decision. The determination was dated 5 August 2008.
Balodis worked for Carrabine Joinery Limited from 8 December 2005 to 1 December 2006. He was paid €6.50 an hour for 2,098 hours over 50 weeks; the operative determination records the applicable minimum wage as €7.65 per week. The Rights Commissioner had found his claim well founded and ordered payment of €2,412, subject to statutory deductions.
The Labour Court found that Balodis had not received the minimum rate due under the Act. Carrabine Joinery argued that the lower rate was fair given his work rate and output, but the Court said that was no defence. It found the Rights Commissioner’s decision correct and upheld it, determining that the company pay Balodis €2,412 in arrears.