Contract staff to get same pay as full-time workers

CONTRACT workers employed by the state must get the same salaries and pension schemes as their counterparts in full-time employment, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

More than 90 professionals with fixed-term contracts — some for as long as 10 years — were on lower salaries, less beneficial pension schemes, fewer holidays and did not receive the normal pay rises.

This was despite the Government negotiating and agreeing at EU level that all Irish employers must treat fixed-term contract workers exactly the same as those in full-time employment.