Two new statutory codes of practice have been launched to help eliminate pay inequality and tackle workplace harassment and sexual harassment.
The measures were developed by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
The new codes of practice, published in the week of International Women’s Day, set out the procedures and steps to ensure that employees receive equal pay for like work in Ireland’s workplaces, and are not subjected to harassment or sexual harassment in employment.
The Code of Practice on Equal Pay provides employers, trade unions and employees with practical guidance on the right to equal pay, how to eliminate pay inequality, and how to resolve pay disputes.
The Code of Practice on Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work sets out what is meant by employment-related sexual harassment and harassment and outlines how it can be prevented.
The code also details the necessary steps to ensure that organisations are ready to deal with harassment and to prevent it from happening again.
The new codes are legally admissible in evidence in proceedings before the courts, the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has also been provided with new legal powers to tackle gender pay gaps in organisations through The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021.
The act will require organisations with over 250 employers to report and publish information relating to their gender pay gap, and to explain why there is a gap and what measures are being taken to reduce it.
“These codes of practice published today must guide employers, trade unions and employees on making their workplaces not only safe, but also equal places to work,” said Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.