The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (“the Commission”) has provided legal assistance to a group of women involved in an equal pay claim under the Employment Equality Acts.
The women alleged that their employer, a hospital contractor, engaged in unequal practices as regards the women’s remuneration, and sought a resolution of the situation through legal means. With the help of legal representatives appointed by the Commission, the women referred equal pay claims to the Workplace Relations Commission (“the WRC”), seeking to raise awareness of the gender pay gap and of the importance of equality in the workplace.
Following negotiations, the women were pleased to settle their claims on terms satisfactory to them and to their employer.
Chief Commissioner Sinéad Gibney said:
“Recent reports confirm that the gender pay gap is still a problem in Ireland. Cases like this one show the importance of women being aware of their rights. We are delighted to have been able to bring this case to a successful conclusion on behalf of a group of committed women who made their complaints on principle.”
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Notes for Editors:
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Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is an independent public body, appointed by the President and directly accountable to the Oireachtas. The Commission has a statutory remit set out under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to protect and promote human rights and equality in Ireland, and build a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding in the State.
The Commission is Ireland’s national human rights institution and is recognised as such by the United Nations. It is also Ireland’s national equality body for the purpose of a range of EU anti-discrimination measures.
Under its legal functions set out in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, the Commission can, in certain circumstances, provide legal assistance to a person who wishes to bring a matter of human rights or equality of treatment before the Courts or the Workplace Relations Commission.
Assistance under Section 40 of the Act means any or all of the following
- the provision, or the arranging for the provision of, legal advice to the applicant;
- the provision, or the arranging for the provision of, legal representation to the applicant
- the provision of such other assistance to the applicant as the Commission deems appropriate in the circumstances;