JUST FIVE of 28 cases taken under employment and equal status legislation were upheld by the Equality Tribunal last month.
The majority of the dismissed cases were taken by members of the Traveller community.
Total awards of €56,750 were made to individuals who were discriminated against on the grounds of their race, gender and disability, with one individual receiving €40,000.
This largest award was made to Moldovan national Iurie Panuta against Watters Garden World and Watters Garden Sheds. Mr Panuta complained that his employer failed in their obligations in relation to a work permit and tax matters and failed to provide health and safety information in a language he understood.
He also claimed that his employers reported his immigration status to the Garda after he made his complaint to the tribunal.
The tribunal found in favour of Mr Panuta on all grounds and awarded him €10,000 for discrimination and a further €30,000 for being victimised for taking a case.
In another employment case, the tribunal awarded Emma Conlon, a waitress at the Sheldon Park Hotel Leisure Club in west Dublin, €8,000 on the grounds she was discriminated against by being ordered to wear a skirt and was sacked for contacting the Equality Authority.
Again the largest portion of the award related to victimisation for making a complaint, for which Ms Conlon was awarded €6,500.
In the final employment case, builder Ilko Jaremukcs was awarded €5,000 against Maughan Construction Ltd on the grounds that the company failed to pay him agreed construction rates, failed to pay pension and sick pay contributions and supply him with proper employment documents, and dismissed him without proper procedures.
Just two out of 23 equal status cases were upheld by the tribunal. Gabriel Moloney was awarded €3,500 against the Park House Hotel, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, after he was refused permission to bring his guide dog for an overnight stay at the hotel. The hotel admitted the error and was ordered by the tribunal to provide disability training for its staff.
