Two fruit farms guilty of labour law offences

INVESTIGATIONS into a couple of fruit farms in the Enniscorthy area led to labour law prosecutions dealt with at the District Court in Gorey.

Before the court were Philip Somers of Townamullogue, Courtnacuddy and Wheelock Fruits Limited of Finchogue, Enniscorthy.

Inspectors from the workplace relations commission called last year and discovered problems with the treatment of fruit pickers hired to bring in the strawberry crop.

Inspector Paula Coogan arrived at Somers’ premises in August to find that workers were being given weekly pay-slips but they received their money only after a considerable delay.

There was confusion as to how many people were working on the farm.

Only seven employees were listed as registered employees but there appeared to be 17 people present. They included a 12-year-old girl. Ms Coogan was told that the child was simply in the field with her mother and father but her name appeared on ‘pick sheets’ recording how much fruit each worker brought in.

When the inspector called once more in November, she confirmed that weekly pay-slips had been issued but money was handed over monthly.

An undertaking was given that the business would no longer employ young people illegally.

Records relating to national minimum wage and the protection of young person were not in order.

The barrister representing the farmer assured Judge Gerard Haughton that her client had since ‘mended his hand’ and steps had been taken to ensure no repeat of what occurred.

A similar approach was adopted in the investigation of Wheelock Fruits Limited, with an inspection in August of last year followed by a meeting with Margaret and Cyril Wheelock in November at the offices of Hughes Blake.

The inspection found that teenagers were employed on fruit stalls but that protection of young persons records were not kept properly.

Records on pay and minimum wage were not available, while employees had not been provided with written terms and conditions of their employment.

The court was assured by counsel that no deliberate breaking of the law was intended and that everything was now in order.

Judge Gerard Haughton noted guilty pleas in both cases and adjourned to the new year to allow the defendants produce evidence to show that they are now compliant with the requirements, as claimed in court.