Rights authority sees hike in prosecutions against firms

The number of court prosecutions taken by the National Employment Rights Authority against businesses increased by 20% to 84 last year. 

The prosecutions — with 70 taken against firms operating in the catering industry — resulted in fines of €109,800 and €41,226 in pay awards made to employees.

The number of inspections carried out by the authority increased by 18%, going from 4,689 in 2012 to 5,546 last year.