Chamber’s Ireland Weekly Digest: 8th August 2017
- Chambers Ireland European Economic Survey 2018
Chambers Ireland, in conjunction with Eurochambres, has launched the European Economic Survey for 2018. This is the 25th edition of this annual Eurochambres assessment of the European business community’s expectations for the year ahead. The target audience of this survey is businesses and chamber members all around the country
The results of this survey will be used to help us to identify the main challenges for business in the coming year. This survey should take no more than 3-5 minutes to complete and the deadline for completion is the 29th September 2017. Questions marked with an asterisk (*) are required. If you have any questions about the survey, please email Chambers Ireland at emma.kerins@chambers.ie
Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZD5GN5G
We urged all Chambers to send the survey to all members in order to gain a broad representation of responses from across the country.
- Excellence in Local Government Awards shortlist announced 2017
Chambers Ireland recently announced the shortlist for the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2017. This year there are a total of twenty three Local Authorities shortlisted over sixteen categories ranging from Active Communities to Local Authority Innovation. The 2017 Excellence in Local Government Awards are sponsored by Vodafone and held in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
Full details of the shortlist are available here
The Press Release announcing the shortlist is available at: http://www.chambers.ie/media/news/2017/08/04/excellent-work-undertaken-by-local-authorities-highlighted-in-awards-shortlist/
The winners will be announced at the 14th annual awards ceremony on 23rd November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry. Awards will be presented for excellence in sixteen different categories and one local authority will be awarded the overall award and named Local Authority of the Year 2017.
- European Commission public consultation on e-Commerce & Retail Sector
The European Commission is undertaking a public consultation to identify (i) the implications of e-commerce and changing consumer habits on the retail sector and its regulatory framework and (ii) opportunities and obstacles for the integration of the EU retail market.
The subject matter of this consultation is one that has been identified as a key concern for the retail sector and has been an area of focus for the Retail Consultation Forum. We would therefore encourage all members to complete the survey and for representative bodies to pass it to their members for completion. The consultation process runs until 8th October 2017.
The survey can be accessed on the link below:
- EESC Employer Group – July Newsletter
The July edition of the European Economic and Social Committee Employers’ Group Newsletter is now available online at the following link
http://www.eesc.europa.eu/resources/docs/newsletter-july-2017-en-online.pdf
- Peninsula HR Advice: Compensation for Employees Working on Public Holidays
So when should employees be compensated when it comes to public holidays?
An employee should be compensated for a public holiday providing they are full-time employees, or they worked 40 hours in the previous five-week period ending before the public holiday itself.
The organisation of Working Time Act 1997 states that an employer may determine which of the following methods of remuneration apply:
- A paid day off on the holiday
- A paid day off within one month
- An extra day’s annual leave
- An extra day’s pay
If the public holiday falls on a day the employee has (a) actually worked, or (b) would normally have worked, then they are entitled to remuneration equivalent to their last working day before the public holiday (excluding overtime).
If the public holiday falls on a day that (a) the employee didn’t work on that day, and (b) the employee wouldn’t normally work on that day, then they are entitled to remuneration equivalent to one-fifth of their last normal working week.
When are employees not entitled to be compensated for Public Holidays?
- In the case of part-time employees, where they haven’t worked 40 hours over the 5 week period ending before the public holiday
- Where the employee is on a period of layoff that exceeds 13 weeks
- Where the employee is on a period of authorised leave that exceeds 13 weeks
- Where the employee is absent in excess of 26 weeks by reason of non-occupational illness or injury
- Where the employee is absent in excess of 52 weeks due to an occupational illness or injury
- Where the employee is on a period of carer’s leave that exceeds 13 weeks
- Where the employee is on statutory health and safety leave
- Where the employee has been absent by reason of strike action
Calculating public holidays can be fairly straight forward for full-time employees with the same hours every week. However, if the employee is part-time or works variable hours, then the public holiday entitlement will vary from one public holiday to the next – so ensure to take advice if you’re uncertain.
If you have any questions regarding the issues in this article, please don’t hesitate to contact Peninsula’s 24 Hour Advice Service on 01 855 50 50
- CETA Market Access Program for EU Businesses
The CETA Market Access Program for EU Business was launched in the context of the signature of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada with the main objective of enabling EU companies to take full advantage of the trade deal. This Program is being managed by DEVELOPMENT Solutions and the EU Chamber of Commerce in Canada (EUCCAN).
The CETA Market Access Program may be of interest to those which are already doing business in Canada or are considering doing so in the future.
Resources and further information is available at: http://www.euccan.com/about-the-ceta-market-access-program/