A waste disposal company employing migrant workers has been sharply criticised by the Labour Court for operating a "bonus" scheme which in reality involves deductions from workers' pay.
Greyhound Waste Disposal, which markets itself as Ireland's leading packaging waste recycler, was also told its pay rates and conditions of employment were out of line with appropriate standards. The court said that what the company described as a "loyalty bonus" was in fact a deduction from the wages of drivers.
The money was retained by the company and held against the cost of accidental damage to its vehicles.
"In the court's view it is a wholly inappropriate and unfair deduction and should be discontinued," the court said in a recommendation just published. "Any monies retained by the company on foot of such deductions should be refunded to the employees from whom it was retained."
The recommendation was issued on foot of a case taken by SIPTU, which accepted a number of Greyhound's drivers into its membership last year.
The company has refused to negotiate with the union and also declined an invitation to attend a hearing at the Labour Relations Commission.
Management did attend a Labour Court hearing earlier this month, however, and responded to SIPTU's submission.
The court recommended improvements in basic pay, overtime and holiday pay, as well as the introduction of a sick pay scheme and new disciplinary procedures, to bring the drivers' working conditions into line with industry standards.
It also said all drivers should be provided with written particulars of their terms and conditions of employment as required by law.
"It is noted that a significant number of the company's drivers do not have fluency in the English language. On this account the statement should be provided in a language that the employee understands."
The court said its recommendation should be issued within a month. If the company refuses to comply, SIPTU can return to the court to seek a binding determination.
Greyhound's website says the company operates throughout the 32 counties and has depots in Dublin and Limerick.