Ireland: Employment and HR

Under this Act, if an employee has an employment contract with a mandatory retirement age that is lower than the State pension age (currently 66) (State Pension Age), the employee has the right to notify their employer that they do not consent to retire at that earlier age. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has also updated its Code of Practice on Longer Working (Code) to reflect what employers and employees need to do under the Act.

The legislative framework governing agency workers in Ireland, the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012 (the “2012 Act”) has been in place for almost 15 years but continues to be an area that generates questions...

Arthur Cox's Pensions Group provides a comprehensive summer update covering critical developments in Irish pensions law, including the commencement of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025, new automatic enrolment regulations, enhanced XBRL reporting requirements, and significant updates from the Pensions Authority, Revenue, and recent case law that will impact how pension schemes operate and how trustees fulfill their governance obligations.

This comprehensive employment law update examines critical WRC decisions from August 2026, including substantial awards for pregnancy discrimination, parent's leave violations, and disability accommodation failures. The analysis also covers the Government's proposed Leave for Pregnancy Loss Bill and highlights emerging compliance risks around minimum wage, working time records, and fair dismissal procedures.

Recent Workplace Relations Commission decisions reveal critical distinctions in how compensation caps apply under Ireland's Employment Equality Acts, particularly when employees resign before filing discrimination claims. The €13,000 statutory ceiling may not always hold, as one landmark case suggests EU law could require higher awards in certain circumstances.

Irish employers must navigate a complex landscape of mandatory workplace policies, from disciplinary procedures to whistleblowing protections. Understanding which policies are legally required, how to implement them effectively, and how to keep them current can mean the difference between compliance and costly disputes.

Under this Act, if an employee has an employment contract with a mandatory retirement age that is lower than the State pension age (currently 66) (State Pension Age), the employee has the right to notify their employer that they do not consent to retire at that earlier age. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has also updated its Code of Practice on Longer Working (Code) to reflect what employers and employees need to do under the Act.

Arthur Cox's Pensions Group provides a comprehensive summer update covering critical developments in Irish pensions law, including the commencement of the Employment (Contractual Retirement Ages) Act 2025, new automatic enrolment regulations, enhanced XBRL reporting requirements, and significant updates from the Pensions Authority, Revenue, and recent case law that will impact how pension schemes operate and how trustees fulfill their governance obligations.

Ireland's Contractual Retirement Ages Act 2025 introduces a consent-based framework that fundamentally changes how employers manage retirement. When employees with contractual retirement ages below 66 notify their employer they wish to continue working, organizations must now apply an individualized objective justification test rather than relying on general policy rationales.

The legislative framework governing agency workers in Ireland, the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Act 2012 (the “2012 Act”) has been in place for almost 15 years but continues to be an area that generates questions...

Fixed-term contracts offer flexibility for Irish employers, but they require careful navigation of equal treatment obligations, renewal restrictions, and dismissal risks. Understanding the Protection of Employees (Fixed-Term Work) Act 2003 is essential to avoid inadvertent legal liability and ensure compliance with successive contract limits, probation requirements, and redundancy entitlements.

Ireland's Labour Court has released its 2025 Annual Report, revealing an 11% decrease in case referrals alongside increasingly complex workplace disputes spanning employment rights appeals, industrial relations matters, and collective bargaining agreements. The report highlights significant legal developments including High Court appeals on European Works Councils and collective redundancies, while demonstrating the Court's expanding role in setting employment standards through Employment Regulation Orders