Strangled by red tape Richard Lett, Spice Restaurant, Wexford
Ger Deering, right, Director of NERA and Minister for Labour Affairs. Photo: Damien Eagers
Sir -- My business has recently been subject to a National Employment Rights Agency (NERA) inspection.
Yet more ridiculous paperwork, records and unnecessary red tape. I wholeheartedly welcome employee legislation that prevents the exploitation of workers, but the NERA requirements are too much to expect from employers who mostly spend their working time firefighting to keep their struggling businesses afloat and their much-valued employees in jobs.
I would like to suggest that, as our Government is an active sponsor of overseas trips to educate officials on the workings of social partnership in other jurisdictions, they might consider a similar €2.5m fund for the small and medium-sized business owners of the country to travel abroad to learn how to deal with their equivalent NERA inspections.
While I am loathe to look backwards, it must be stated that our Government has utterly failed to properly regulate our banks yet they seem steadfastly intent on ramming ever-increasing regulation and red tape down the throats of the current and future job creators.
'Forgive them for they know not what they do' are words that spring to mind.
Richard Lett,
Spice Restaurant, Wexford
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