Update to the Security ERO

Last updated: August 29th, 2023

The Employment Regulation Order (Security Industry Joint Labour Committee) 2017 (S.I. 231 of 2017) is effective since 1st June 2017. The initial Security ERO came into effect on 1st October 2015. The new ERO has brought a number of changes that all employers in the security industry should be aware of.

Changes in the ERO:

Hourly Rate

Previously there was a flat minimum of €10.75 per hour. The old rate will be increased by 8% on a phased basis. It is important to note that the first increase took place on the 1st June 2017 and increased the minimum wage to €11.05 per hour.

The following increases are due to take place on a phased basis:

  • 30c to €11.35 per hour from 1st June 2018;
  • 30c to €11.65 per hour from 1st June 2019.

Minimum Hours

The updated ERO promises new workers minimum weekly working hours. It states the rule only applies to new workers and will not have any impact on the existing agreement with current employees.

  • The ERO states that “[w]orkers who enter the industry will be offered a contract of employment with a minimum of 24 hours per week after 6 months’ service”.
  • Furthermore, the ERO goes on to state that, in respect of new workers, “If it is required for operational purposes that the contract hours available are less than 24 hours per week, and it is demonstrably so, then this clause will not apply and new workers may be employed for hours that are less than provided for in the ERO.”

Minimum Day Rate

Aside from minimum hours and hourly rates, the ERO states that “[w]hen a security worker is called in to carry out a Shift/ Duty comprising of less than four hours, this will attract a minimum of four hours’ pay.”

Bereavement Leave

This new policy will mean that every employer must have a bereavement policy which guarantees at least one paid day off in respect of certain family members:

  • “All employers are required to have a bereavement policy or procedure in place which provides for paid bereavement leave to include a minimum of one day’s pay in respect of the death of an immediate family member (parent, child, sibling, spouse, grandparent, grandchild)”

Sick Pay

An employee will now need less service in order to be entitled to sick pay. The length of service threshold has been reduced by 6 months at all stages of the policy. Employees will now be entitled to the following sick pay;

  • After 18 months’ service – 3 weeks’ benefit
  • After 30 months’ service – 4 weeks’ benefit
  • After 42 months’ service – 5 weeks’ benefit

TUPE

Where a TUPE transfer takes place, the ERO sets out that the outgoing contractor must provide the workers with specific information on their terms and conditions in advance of the date of transfer.

Trade Unions

The ERO sets out an employer’s obligation to include the name of the recognised Trade Union with representation/organisation rights in employees contract of employment.

If you have any questions regarding the Security ERO please contact the advice line on 01 886 0350

Book a call with a consultant

Complete the form below and a consultant will call you as soon as possible.

Book a call with a consultant

Complete the form below and a consultant will call you as soon as possible.

Latest Resources

Travel Time and Working Time

In 2015, the European Court of Justice ruled that employees without a fixed place of work should have time spent travelling to and from their […]

What’s the difference between bullying and harassment?

Difference between bullying and harassment
First published: September 15th 2023 Last updated: September 15th 2023 In 2021, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) together with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) […]

Falsification of Employment Records

Falsification of records
First published: September 28th, 2017 Last updated: September 6th, 2023 The Importance of Keeping Accurate Employment Records One of the major news stories of 2017 […]

Olga Shevchenko

Director/Advocate, Immigration Advice Bureau

Olga Shevchenko specialises in immigration advocacy and consultancy, in particular, employment permit, visas, family reunification, citizenship, etc, for those seeking to visit, reside or invest in Ireland.

Olga provides extensive information, knowledge, and support to her clients, enabling access to positive solutions for people struggling to handle the immigration law.

Minister Neale Richmond

Minister of State, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Neale Richmond TD was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with special responsibility for Employment Affairs and Retail Business and the Department of Social Protection in January 2023.

Much of his work at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is with businesses, workers, their representative bodies and the State Agencies to ensure that the economic recovery and growth extends to all parts of the country. He works closely with the SME sector, including retail, on building resilience and on the transition to the green and digital economies.

Mark Carpenter

Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Sky

Mark Carpenter is Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs at Sky Ireland. In this role he has responsibility for External and Internal Communications, Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs and the company’s ‘Bigger Picture’ (CSR) programme. He also works closely with Sky Group teams on a variety of matters, in particular our partnerships with domestic broadcasters.

Prior to working at Sky, Mark worked as a Policy Officer in Houses of the Oireachtas and as a Management Consultant at Accenture. He has a BA in History from Oxford University and a PhD in Political Science from Trinity College Dublin.

Nora Cashe

Litigation and Compliance Manager, Peninsula

Nóra studied Law in Griffith College Dublin and qualified as a Barrister in 2008, practising in the area of Criminal law. She is also member of the Irish Employment Law Association.

Nora has extensive experience representing clients at Employment Tribunal hearings, Conciliation / Mediation meetings before both the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. 

Nóra is a member of the Irish Employment Law Association and engages with the WRC Adjudication Service as part of their stakeholder engagement forum.

Deiric McCann

Managing Director, Genos International Europe

Deiric McCann leads Genos International Europe – The EU division of a world-leading provider of emotional intelligence solutions. 

With over two decades experience at the highest levels of management, Deiric supports clients to develop the resilience, emotional intelligence, psychological safety and engagements of their employees.

Rhiannon Coyne

Senior HR Consultant, Graphite HRM

Rhiannon Coyne is a Senior HR Consultant at Graphite HRM and will be providing an overview of best practice on how to deal with complaints of bullying and harassment in the workplace. 

With a number of recent updates to employment laws, Rhiannon will take a closer look at employment equality and how it is interlinked to Health & Safety and what employers can learn from recent case laws.

David Begg

Chairman, Workplace Relations Commission

David Begg was appointed Chairperson of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) in January 2021.

David is also a professor at Maynooth University Institute of Social Sciences. Mr Begg’s extensive history in the trade union movement included leading the ESB Officers Association and Irish Congress of Trade Unions, stepping away from the latter in 2001 to chair international aid agency Concern.

David Begg was also previously a director of the Central Bank of Ireland between 1995 and 2010.