New Legislation Enacted
The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 has been amended to increase the entitlement to parent’s leave from seven to nine weeks. The implementing legislation took effect on August 1, 2024.
Labor Court Finds in Favor of Employer in Training Case
Precedential Decision by Judiciary or Regulatory Agency
In a recent case, the Labor Court found that the employer was not required to pay any of the costs incurred by the complainant in obtaining expert assistance and attending an unapproved training session.
Based on its obligations under the Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act, 1996, the employer provided training by independent legal experts for European Works Council (EWC) members. Not satisfied that the training met the requirements under the 1996 Act, some EWC members attended an additional training course in Germany, despite the employer indicating that it would not cover the cost of this training. The EWC members also retained an expert from the EWC Academy in Hamburg, without seeking pre-approval from the employer for the
cost of this expert.
The Labor Court found that the training the employer provided satisfied its obligations under the 1996 Act, and that the employer was not required to pay any of the costs involved in obtaining the expert assistance.
