NRA seeks labour watchdog

The National Roads Authority (NRA) wants to hire a company to ensure that all contractors working on its lucrative building projects are complying with laws such as minimum wage legislation and working time regulations.

The NRA has issued tenders seeking to hire consultants who will monitor the pay and conditions of people working for contractors and sub-contractors on the State's major road projects.

The tender values the contract at €600,000. According to its terms, the successful bidder will have to monitor and audit all contractors and sub-contractors involved in NRA projects.

They will have to ensure that firms are complying with labour laws governing pay, working time and other conditions, as well as meeting their PAYE and social insurance obligations.

They will also have to ensure that they are complying with registered pay agreements that govern conditions in the building and electrical contracting businesses.

The consultants will be required to ensure that the companies involved are contributing to the building industry's pension scheme.

Firms operating in the sector are obliged to do this, but there is ongoing controversy over the level of compliance.

They will also have to liaise with trade unions representing workers in the building industry.

For the last three years, the NRA has employed a private firm Contracts Administrative Services (CAS) to fulfil this role.

That contract is set to terminate by the end of the year, which is why the authority is putting it out to tender.

CAS will be eligible to reapply and the authority intends that there will be a seamless transition from the old contract to the new one.

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment is responsible for regulation in areas such as minimum wage legislation. Where the NRA's consultants identify breaches, they will be obliged to inform the Department.