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Working Hours in Ireland

The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 states that the maximum average working week for most employees cannot exceed 48 hours. This does not mean that a working week can never exceed 48 hours, it is the average that is important.

The calculation of 48 hours does not include annual leave, sick leave or maternity/adoptive/parental leave.

Salary in Ireland

As in all countries, wages depend on the sector in which you want to work. The minimum wage in Ireland is € 1,546.35 per month or €9.25 per hour.

An experienced adult employee for the purposes of the National Minimum Wage Act is an employee who has an employment of any kind in any 2 years over the age of 18. However, the national minimum wage (NMW) does not stop an employer from offering a higher wage.

You can refer to this list of frequently asked questions on the national minimum wage.

Work Contracts in Ireland

An employment contract must be made in writing and must have two copies: one for the employee, the other for the employer. In general, contacts must be concluded for an indefinite term. The Labour Code allows for finite term contracts only in a few cases, most notably, for seasonal or casual work, or paid public work.

The statement of terms must include the following information:

• Full name of employer and employee
• Address of the employer
• Place of work
• Title of job or nature of work
• Date the employment started
• If the contract of employment is for a fixed term, the details of rest periods and breaks as required by law
• Rate of pay or method of calculation of pay
• Pay intervals
• Hours of work
• Details of paid leave
• Sick pay and pension (if any)
• Period of notice to be given by employer or employee
• Details of any collective agreements that may affect the employee's terms of employment

If the contract is temporary, the expected duration of the contract

Termination of Work Contract in Ireland

You may be entitled to notice if you are being let go from your job. This means that you are given notice that your job will end and the date in the near future when this will come into effect.

The length of notice you are entitled to depends on your contract of employment and the amount of time you have worked at that job. In order to be entitled to the statutory minimum, you must have been working for your employer for at least 13 weeks.

For example, employees in continuous service of their employer for less than two years are entitled to one week of notice. If the employee has been in the continuous service of his employer for fifteen years or more, they are entitled to eight weeks. Find more terms on the Irish Statute Book.

Time Off

Entitlement to annual leave from work determined by the legislation and in the contract of employment.

Various entitlements to leave from work include (but are not limited to):

• Annual leave
• Public holidays
• Maternity leave
• Paternity leave
• Adoptive leave
• Carer's leave
• Parental leave

It is also important to note that the periods of leave provided for by legislation are the minimum entitlements only, you and your employer may agree to additional entitlements.

Annual Leave in Ireland

The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides for a basic annual paid leave entitlement of 4 weeks.

It is for your employer to decide when annual leave may be taken, but this is subject to a number of conditions. Your employer must take into account your family responsibilities, opportunities for rest and recreation that are available to you and to consult with you (or your union) at least one month before the leave is to be taken. In addition, annual leave should be taken within the appropriate leave year or with your consent, within 6 months of the relevant leave year.

More information on Workplacerelations.ie/en/

Public Holidays in Ireland

There are 9 official bank holidays days per year.

These bank holidays can be enjoyed on the dates indicated or give rise to a day off during the month, an extra yearly free day or an extra day paid, according to the employer decision. If the bank holiday coincides on a day on which the worker does not work (for example a Saturday), he is entitled to a fifth of the weekly wage.

On a public holiday, most businesses, government offices, and schools close. Other services, for example, public transport still operate but often with restricted schedules.

The list of public holidays each year is as follows:

• New Year's Day (1 January)
• St. Patrick's Day (17 March)
• Easter Monday
• First Monday in May, June, August
• Last Monday in October
• Christmas Day (25 December)
• St. Stephen's Day (26 December)

Good Friday is not a public holiday. While some schools and businesses close on that day, you have no automatic entitlement to time off work on that day.

Holiday pay in respect of annual leave is paid in advance at the normal weekly rate. If your pay varies because, for example, of commission or bonus payments, your pay for your holidays is the average of your pay over the 13 weeks before you take holidays.