Workers and trade union organisers assembled outside a building site, on Hanover Quay, Dublin 2, this morning (Friday, 30th July) to highlight reports of subcontractors failing to comply with legally binding terms and conditions for employees in the industry. The group, who are members of the Construction Industry Committee (CIC) of the ICTU, distributed “red cards” to workers entering the site and members of the public. On the cards the issues associated with non-compliance in the construction industry are outlined, including paying workers below legal pay rates, not contributing to pension and sickness schemes and employing people as bogus self-employed. SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “A major issue is contractors not complying with the terms of the Sectoral Employment Order (SEO) for the construction industry. An SEO is a legally binding instrument which governs minimum rates of payment, hours of work and employer contributions into sickness and pension schemes as well as other benefits. “The ‘Show Non-compliance the Red Card’ campaign was outside this building site at 6.00 a.m. this morning. Over the last few weeks we have assembled outside several other sites where there are reports of non-compliance. “Subcontractors failing to meet their legal obligations to workers not only affects those directly involved but also means less taxes to pay for public services and good compliant businesses losing out on contracts because they are undercut by rogue employers.” He added: “The message should be clear to such rogue employers in the construction industry. Unless you change what you are doing the ‘Show Non-compliance the Red Card’ campaign will be paying your site a visit. Following that legal action will be taken to enforce compliance on your site.”
Workers show non-compliant building subcontractors the ‘Red Card’ in Dublin
