Contract: All employers are obliged to provide a written contract to employees, which describes their job, pay structure, working hours, annual leave, procedures etc. Most jobs available are full-time permanent jobs.

Where trade unions exist they negotiate a collective contract and new employees sign it. Otherwise employers negotiate individual contracts on an individual basis with each employee.

Short-term contracts are common in many high skilled areas. Such contracts are usually for 6-12 month periods.

Hours of Work: The standard working week is 39 hours. However, most white collar, public service and professional employees have a 36-37 hour week.

Holidays: Minimum four weeks; for professionals generally five weeks. There are 9 paid public holidays.

Workers Rights: Ireland has adopted all EU Directives protecting workers rights.

The rights of all full-time, part-time and contract workers are protected in such areas as redundancy, unfair dismissal, equality, the right to information on terms and conditions of employment, maternity rights, Working Time etc.

Full information on workers rights is available from the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, 353 1 6614444, see www.entemp.ie

Disputes: Disputes about contracts, pay or conditions of employment are referred to the industrial relations agencies: Labour Relations Commission, Labour Court, Employment Appeals Tribunals and Rights Commissioners.

The system is entirely voluntary and geared towards achieving solutions through conciliation and mediation. It is costless and all employees can use it either by themselves or through a trade union acting on their behalf. Individuals still have a right to go through the normal court system if they are not satisfied.