Legal News (Employment Law)

On 29 February 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Republic of Ireland was announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team.

Gill Woods, Consultant to Hayes solicitors’ Employment Law Group summarises and explains recent emergency measures announced by the government for the purposes of protecting employment in Ireland.

In these challenging times, Employers are having to make decisions about their business at an unprecedented pace and in circumstances where the decision-making is outside of their control.

On Friday 20 March 2020, the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 was signed into law by President Michael D Higgins, having been passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann at unprecedented speed, in light of prevailing circumstances.

A limited number of TD’s will meet today in Dáil Éireann where it is expected that the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020 (“the Bill”) will be passed.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has published a Guidance Notice for employers and employees in connection with managing their response to COVID-19.