Employers in the food service, beauty and retail sectors had the highest number of breaches.
In the food industry, there were 1,637 cases, 821 were found to be in breach and €453,172 worth of wages was recouped.
Just over €221,000 in unpaid wages was recovered from the wholesale and retail trade, which had 485 breaches. The hair and beauty industry had 562 cases, 233 breaches and €94,457 in wages retrieved.
Overall, there was an increase (18pc) in the number of complaints to the WRC in 2024.
The commission received 7,316 applications representing 14,890 individual complaints.
Some of the most prevalent issues were pay (27pc), unfair dismissals (15pc), discrimination (14pc), working time and terms of employment (9pc).
Over the past three years, there has been an increase in employer inspections and breaches of employment law obligations.
Last year, 5,156 employers were inspected, compared to 4,727 in 2023 and 3,943 the year before.
However, a report published by the ESRI in December highlighted how inspection rates are low.
In 2023, the 4,727 inspections represented just 2.5pc of the 191,600 employers in the State.
Dr David Begg, chairperson of the WRC board, said the commission performed “strongly” last year.
“Our aim is to continuously improve our offering to our stakeholders, and we are very grateful for the trust and confidence they repose in us,” he said.
The report said there was high demand for the commission’s services, with 59,400 calls to its information phone lines and over 4m website views.
There was also a rise (6pc) in the number of adjudication hearings. In total, 9,054 hearings took place, an average of 180 per week.
The WRC said its conciliation service had a success rate of 85pc.
In total, 77 employers were convicted for breaches of employment law. The majority are involved in the food service industry. Successful prosecutions were up 27pc on 2023.
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke said the Government is committed to supporting the “central role” played by the WRC and Labour Court in industrial relations and employment matters.
“The annual report for 2024 highlights the WRC’s strong delivery across all services provided to the public including inspection, the provision of information, conciliation, adjudication, mediation and other advisory services,” he said.
“Strong and well-functioning industrial relations institutions are an important and very valued element of our economy, supporting and promoting fair wages, particularly in low paid sectors. Collectively bargained agreements also play a positive role in increasing productivity for businesses.”
The WRC is currently recruiting inspectors to fill the vacancies, along with an increase of ten new inspectors, which will lead to a complement of 80 inspectors in 2025.
It said its closure of 5,156 inspection cases in 2024 was 15pc above target.
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