The first thing you should be aware of is the maximum number of hours a week you can work in a set period. For general employees this is 48 net hours worked a week for a 4 month period. It is also important to note the minimum rest periods that an employer must allow. 11 hours rest for every 24 hour working period and 1 period of 24 hours rest per week preceded by a daily rest period i.e. 11 hours. One issue that very few people seem aware of is what there actual break entitlements are. The following are the standard break times under the working time act. It must be noted however that these times can vary if a collective agreement is in place that has been approved by the Labour Court. The standard times are: 15 minutes where more than 4 and half hours have been worked; 30 minutes where more than 6 hours have been worked which may include the first break.

The next major concern of people is usually their holiday entitlements. These can be calculated in three ways.

1) 4 working weeks in a leave year in which the employee works at least 1,360 hours (unless it is a leave year in which he or she changes employment).

2) 1/3 of a working week per calendar month that the employee works at least 117 hours.

3) 8% of the hours an employee works in a leave year (but subject to a maximum of 4 working weeks).

The act will also allow for the nine standard public holidays. If the public holiday falls on a day on which the employee normally works, then the employee is entitled to either a paid day off, an additional day's pay, a paid day off within a month of the day, or an additional day of paid annual leave for the public holiday.

So what can you expect to earn as Irish employee. The national Irish minimum wage from the 1st of July 2007 will be raised €8.65 for an experienced adult worker. For workers under the age of 18 and inexperienced adult workers different rates can apply so you discuss with your employer rates of pay before undertaking new employment.

There are a number of other sections of employee rights which I will cover in my next article below is listed the recommended course you should follow in order to make a complaint against an employer.

If you feel that your current employment contravenes any of these laws above you should apply for the relevant complaints form from Employment Rights Information Unit or from the Office of the Rights Commissioner.