The SIPTU Workers Rights Centre has secured an adjudication award of €3500 for a member, Lazaros Saridis, in compensation for breaches of the terms of the Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) for the construction industry. SIPTU Workers Rights Centre Advocate, Shonagh Byrne, said: “Lazaros was employed as a groundsperson for ten months in 2019. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. His employer, Ch Groundworks Contracts Ltd, failed to pay the worker the correct statutory rate of pay of €17.04 per hour set down by the 2017 Construction SEO. “SIPTU brought the case to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), where the Adjudicator found that Lazaros should have been paid the correct rate established by the Construction SEO. He was awarded €3500 compensation for the breaches of his legal entitlements.” She added: “Lazaros, who is a Greek national, was provided with a translator by the WRC for the hearing. This indicates the support that workers whose first language is not English can receive when they seek to vindicate their rights as workers.” SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “On behalf of SIPTU Construction Sector members, I congratulate Lazaros for having the courage to take on this injustice and hope that it is an example to all workers in construction to stand up and fight for their legal rights all of which are contained in the Construction SEO.”
SIPTU wins construction worker compensation for underpayment
