An increasing number of companies funded by public money are refusing to attend hearings of the industrial relations machinery of the State and/or refusing to be bound by their recommendations.

The Labour Court has told Unilever to re-engage with staff union Siptu, with which it had a "healthy working relationship" for more than 30 years.

For the first time in 30 years, some 10,000 home helps employed by the HSE are to be given contracts which will guarantee them a minimum number of hours of work each week.