Labour Court directs Plunkett Construction to provide workers’ benefits

The Labour Court found that Plunkett Construction Limited had breached the construction industry agreement by failing to provide workers with pension, mortality and sick pay cover. In a decision signed on 8 November 2007, it directed the company to take the steps needed to comply for all workers engaged since its incorporation on 19 July 2004. The Building And Allied Trades Union brought the complaint under section 32 of the Industrial Relations Act, 1946. Plunkett argued that the workers were self-employed, but accepted they fell within the agreement’s definition of workers and had not received the required benefits.