Battle to make firms pay compo

THE number of enforcement applications made to the employment rights watchdog has exploded in the past year as it chases firms for larger financial awards owed to employees.

Provisional figures from the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) show that in the first 11 months of this year 134 enforcement cases were received, compared with just 48 for all of 2010.

In 2011, €835,372 was awarded to those successful in bringing a claim, often for back pay owed by employers. In 2010, the figure was just €271,253, of which €87,791 was recouped in 22 cases.