Employment Law

Not being paid
what you are owed?
You have the right to recover it.

Every worker in Ireland is entitled to at least the national minimum wage. Unpaid wages, unlawful deductions, unpaid holiday pay, and minimum wage violations are all recoverable through the Workplace Relations Commission. You do not need to have left your job to bring a claim.

€13.50

Minimum wage from Jan 2026

6 months

To file a complaint

6 years

To recover arrears

Free

Initial assessment

Payment of Wages Act 1991

Unlawful deductions from wages can be recovered — with interest

The National Minimum Wage Act 2000 and the Payment of Wages Act 1991 give workers in Ireland clear rights to receive the wages they are owed and to challenge unlawful deductions.

Common violations include: being paid below the national minimum wage, having wages deducted without your written consent, not receiving payment for all hours worked, unpaid overtime, unpaid holiday pay, and not being paid during notice periods. If you are an employee — not a contractor — these rights apply to you regardless of whether you are full-time, part-time, or casual.

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Keep your payslips and time records

If you believe you are being underpaid, keep records of your hours worked, your payslips, any written communications about pay, and your employment contract. If your employer does not provide payslips, this is itself a violation. These records are the foundation of any wage recovery claim.

Similar Cases

Others in the same situation

Amina, Dublin

Paid below minimum wage for eighteen months. Employer claimed she was an independent contractor despite controlling her hours and equipment.

Employee status established — full arrears recovered

Piotr, Galway

Holiday pay not paid for three years. Employer said annual leave was included in hourly rate — no written agreement existed.

Holiday pay arrears awarded

Sandra, Limerick

Wages deducted for till shortages without written consent. Deductions totalled over €1,200 over six months.

Unlawful deductions — full recovery ordered

George, Dublin

Not paid for final two weeks of employment after dismissal. Employer claimed wages were offset against an alleged debt.

Wages recovered — alleged debt unsubstantiated

A Real Situation

Dariusz's story — Cork

Unpaid Wages

"I was working 50 hours a week and being paid for 39. I was told overtime was not paid in my contract. That was not what my contract said."

Dariusz had been working in a food processing plant in Cork for two years. He regularly worked ten to twelve hours of overtime per week, often at short notice. When he raised the issue of overtime pay with his supervisor, he was told that his contract included overtime in his base salary.

Dariusz requested a copy of his contract. It said no such thing. His base salary was described as covering his standard 39-hour week. There was no reference to overtime being included.

His solicitor calculated the arrears over a two-year period. The total owed, based on minimum wage for the uncompensated hours, came to over €14,000. A WRC complaint was filed.

The employer initially denied the hours were worked. The solicitor obtained site access records that showed Dariusz's entry and exit times over the full two-year period. The employer settled before the hearing.

Arrears recovered in full — settlement before hearing This story is based on situations commonly experienced in Ireland and is for illustrative purposes only.

Common Questions

Answered plainly

As of January 2026, the national minimum wage is €13.50 per hour for workers aged 20 and over. Lower rates apply for workers under 20. Your employer must pay you at least this rate for every hour worked, including time spent on call if you are required to be available.

Only in limited circumstances — where required by law (such as income tax), where specifically provided for in your contract, or where you have given written consent to a specific deduction. Deductions for till shortages, damage to equipment, or other losses require your written consent and cannot reduce your pay below minimum wage.

A WRC complaint must be filed within six months of the most recent underpayment. However, the WRC can award arrears going back further if the underpayment was part of a continuing violation. Your solicitor will advise on the maximum recoverable period.

Yes. You do not need to have left your job to bring a payment of wages complaint. Many employees bring WRC complaints while still employed, particularly where the employer has refused to address the issue internally.

Related Situations

Not being paid
what you are owed?
You have the right to recover it.

Unlawful deductions from wages can be recovered — with interest

Others in the same situation

Dariusz's story — Cork

"I was working 50 hours a week and being paid for 39. I was told overtime was not paid in my contract. That was not what my contract said."

Answered plainly

Other situations we can help with

You worked for it.
You are entitled to be paid for it.

Not being paidwhat you are owed?You have the right to recover it.

Unlawful deductions from wages can be recovered — with interest

Others in the same situation

Dariusz's story — Cork

"I was working 50 hours a week and being paid for 39. I was told overtime was not paid in my contract. That was not what my contract said."

Answered plainly

Other situations we can help with

You worked for it.You are entitled to be paid for it.

Not being paid
what you are owed?
You have the right to recover it.

You worked for it.
You are entitled to be paid for it.