Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is still an onus on employers to provide a contract of employment and there is redress currently within the Unfair Dismissals Act such that if a contract of employment is not provided to an employee, he or she can bring a claim within six weeks and will be compensated accordingly. This section as it stands places an undue burden on small businesses. I do not agree with my colleagues. Small businesses are the backbone of this country. There are more small businesses than large businesses and this will put a massive burden on them. They do not have the luxury of huge HR departments. Most businesses act in good faith, especially small businesses. It takes them a little while - more than five days - to get around to putting a contract of employment in place.Many businesses take on staff at really busy periods when they want to get the work done and people can get their contract in place at this time but this provision penalises small businesses. I am asking the Minister to remove it so that small businesses are not penalised. There is already redress for an employee who is not given a contract of employment. This provision is ridiculous and it goes completely overboard.