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Last week social welfare inspectors from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection conducted approximately 1,000 inspections of employers across Dublin city in a variety of sectors.<\/p>\nLast week social welfare inspectors from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection conducted approximately 1,000 inspections of employers across Dublin city in a variety of sectors.<\/p>\n
The inspections are part of ongoing measures being undertaken by the Department to detect instances of false self-employment and other possible abuses of the PRSI system.<\/p>\n
The Department said these visits to employers have proved very worthwhile and have increased awareness of possible abuses of the PRSI system.<\/p>\n
The visits follow the Department\u2019s recent information campaign highlighting the issue of false self-employment.<\/p>\n
“Given the reduction in the Live Register and changes to work practices, our Inspectors are increasingly being deployed to conduct employer inspections \u2013 checking that social insurance records are being correctly maintained, that workers are being properly classified as employees and that time at work is being reported correctly,” said Minister Regina Doherty, TD.<\/p>\n
“It is important to note that employers who falsify records or deliberately misclassify a worker can be charged arrears of social insurance contributions and can be prosecuted.<\/p>\n
We will follow up with prosecutions as appropriate.<\/p>\n
The Department is increasing the number of social welfare Inspector visits on PRSI related activity over the course of 2018 and will continue this approach into 2019 in order to protect workers\u2019 rights.<\/p>\n
If a person is falsely self-employed it can affect their PRSI contribution record and their social welfare entitlements.<\/p>\n
It may also impact on their entitlements under employment rights legislation including, for example, entitlement to statutory minimum pay rates, receiving a payslip, rest breaks, public holiday and annual leave entitlements and protection against unfair dismissal.<\/p>\n