Employing in Ireland

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Expanding into
Ireland

Expanding into Ireland – which is characterised by a well-educated, ambitious, and adaptable workforce, multifaceted employment and tax laws, an extensive infrastructure network linking to Europe and beyond, and leading sectors in pharmaceutical and medical technology, software, ICT, financial services, trade, agriculture, mining, and fishing – can bring excitement to the possibilities, but also significant stress to ensuring the entity with the country’s rigid legal structures and laws.

Ireland Coastal Region
Ireland Coastal Region

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Ensuring compliance without sufficient knowledge of the country’s laws also adds stress to getting your new entity off the ground and ready to test new markets. Going at it without the proper support can increase the costs, time and risks involved.

Global expansion is a step for any business, regardless of your goal. The opportunities that can come with an expansion can be both incredibly exciting as well as intimidating and confusing, especially when you consider all of the registration procedures that need to be done and the documentation required.

This can be worked through efficiently and cost-effectively with the support of an international Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) such as Bradford Jacobs, especially through our Employer of Record (EOR) framework. This can be best utilised when businesses are just beginning their expansion process and require more information before committing to incorporating an entity and fully establishing themselves in the Irish market.

Country EOR Guide - Bradford Jacobs

Download our Guide to Ireland

Learn all about expanding into Ireland and see what we can do to make your expansion easier.

Download our Guide to Ireland

Learn all about expanding into Ireland and see what we can do to make your expansion easier.

Country EOR Guide - Bradford Jacobs

Hiring Staff
in Ireland

Hiring Staff
in Ireland

The Main Sectors of the Irish Economy

Ireland focuses on the following key sectors, which all have a significant impact on the country’s economy:

These primary industries of Ireland rely on the country’s rich natural resources. These industries account for 5% of the country’s GDP and employ about 8% of the total labour force. Ireland has great potential for agriculture, considering its large fertile pasture, particularly in the southern and midland regions. However, agriculture contributes only 1% of the GDP. With a 9% forest cover, Ireland is one of the least forested countries in Europe. It mainly relies on wood imports to increase the forest cover. The country’s fishing industry only focuses on aquaculture. The mining industry relies primarily on the production of lead, zinc, alumina, and a small number of minerals such as copper, gold, limestone, and gypsum. Ireland is one of the major exporters of zinc.
The pharmaceutical and medical technology industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Ireland due to the high demand, steep competition, and emerging start-ups. The medical technology and research sector have over 100 companies responsible for employing about 25,000 people and generating 9.4 billion euros annually. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical industry employs nearly 50,000 and generates about 60 billion euros of export annually. Biologics is the fastest-growing sector within the pharma industry, with expansions and several start-ups. Most of the pharma companies are based in Ringaskiddy and Little Island.
Trade and export are one of the main components of the economy of Ireland. All the manufactured products must be sold for the country to earn revenue. Trade in the country is worth about €165 billion, mainly from service and merchandise trade. Export plays a significant role in the growth of the economy. Ireland is among the largest exporter of software-related goods, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. The country is also the largest producer of zinc and the second-largest producer of lead in Europe. These minerals contribute significantly to Ireland’s export earnings.
The technology industry’s success has resulted from the increase in foreign companies setting up their offices in the country, especially in Dublin. Due to the impending Brexit, more and more fintech companies are moving to Dublin. The ICT sector employs over 35,000 people, generating about 35 billion euros annually. Ireland has over 200 ICT companies, including most of the top ten largest ICT companies. These companies are based in Dublin and include Facebook, Google, eBay, Amazon, LinkedIn, Twitter, PayPal, and Microsoft. The software sector generates over 16 billion euros annually and employs about 20,000 people. Ireland is the second-largest exporter of software in the world. Some of the top ten global technology firms (like Apple) operate in Ireland.
The sector employs nearly 35,000 people and generates an average of 2 billion euros in taxes. The country continues to attract, develop, and retain financial services, thanks to the continued foreign direct investments. Ireland is Europe’s 7th most prominent provider of wholesale financial services. Most financial companies can be found at Dublin’s International Financial Service Center. There are over 60 credit institutions in Ireland, and the banking sector is dominated by the Bank of Ireland, AIB Bank, and Ulster Bank.

The Main Sectors of the Irish Economy

Ireland focuses on the following key sectors, which all have a significant impact on the country’s economy:

Main Sectors of the Irish Economy
These primary industries of Ireland rely on the country’s rich natural resources. These industries account for 5% of the country’s GDP and employ about 8% of the total labour force. Ireland has great potential for agriculture, considering its large fertile pasture, particularly in the southern and midland regions. However, agriculture contributes only 1% of the GDP. With a 9% forest cover, Ireland is one of the least forested countries in Europe. It mainly relies on wood imports to increase the forest cover. The country’s fishing industry only focuses on aquaculture. The mining industry relies primarily on the production of lead, zinc, alumina, and a small number of minerals such as copper, gold, limestone, and gypsum. Ireland is one of the major exporters of zinc.
The pharmaceutical and medical technology industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Ireland due to the high demand, steep competition, and emerging start-ups. The medical technology and research sector have over 100 companies responsible for employing about 25,000 people and generating 9.4 billion euros annually. On the other hand, the pharmaceutical industry employs nearly 50,000 and generates about 60 billion euros of export annually. Biologics is the fastest-growing sector within the pharma industry, with expansions and several start-ups. Most of the pharma companies are based in Ringaskiddy and Little Island.
Trade and export are one of the main components of the economy of Ireland. All the manufactured products must be sold for the country to earn revenue. Trade in the country is worth about €165 billion, mainly from service and merchandise trade. Export plays a significant role in the growth of the economy. Ireland is among the largest exporter of software-related goods, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. The country is also the largest producer of zinc and the second-largest producer of lead in Europe. These minerals contribute significantly to Ireland’s export earnings.
The technology industry’s success has resulted from the increase in foreign companies setting up their offices in the country, especially in Dublin. Due to the impending Brexit, more and more fintech companies are moving to Dublin. The ICT sector employs over 35,000 people, generating about 35 billion euros annually. Ireland has over 200 ICT companies, including most of the top ten largest ICT companies. These companies are based in Dublin and include Facebook, Google, eBay, Amazon, LinkedIn, Twitter, PayPal, and Microsoft. The software sector generates over 16 billion euros annually and employs about 20,000 people. Ireland is the second-largest exporter of software in the world. Some of the top ten global technology firms (like Apple) operate in Ireland.
The sector employs nearly 35,000 people and generates an average of 2 billion euros in taxes. The country continues to attract, develop, and retain financial services, thanks to the continued foreign direct investments. Ireland is Europe’s 7th most prominent provider of wholesale financial services. Most financial companies can be found at Dublin’s International Financial Service Center. There are over 60 credit institutions in Ireland, and the banking sector is dominated by the Bank of Ireland, AIB Bank, and Ulster Bank.

Commercial Laws
in Ireland

Ireland has no legal requirement for a formal written contract. Employers, however, must offer at least a written statement covering ‘core items’ of the agreement within five days of the employee starting work and the full terms within two months.

Types of employment arrangements in Ireland cover full-time permanent employees on an open-ended or indefinite contract; fixed-term employees working on a special project or defined timescale; part-time workers; and seasonal and casual workers. Additionally, collective or trade union agreements may also affect contract types.

Unlike in other European Union (EU) nations, employers in Ireland are not legally required to negotiate with unions over employment conditions. Ireland introduced the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act in 2015 to encourage collective bargaining, but this remains largely voluntary.

Around a quarter of Irish workers are in Trade Unions, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has close to 50 members. A 2019 EU survey assessed less than a third of private sector companies “engage with trade unions for collective bargaining.”

Tax Authorities

The Office of the Revenue Commissioners (Irish Tax and Customs) –  A government Order established it in 1923. Its core business is the assessment and collection of taxes and duties. Revenue’s mandate derives from obligations imposed by statute and government due to Ireland’s membership of the European Union (EU).

Labour Authorities

The National Employment Rights Authority is an Office of the DETI (Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Innovation). Its mission is to achieve a national culture of employment rights compliance by providing information supported by enforcement.

The Health and Safety Authority – It’s an Agency within the DETI (Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Innovation) responsible for the administration and enforcement of health and safety at work.

Commercial Laws
in Ireland

Laws Affecting Your Business in Ireland

The Dutch Civil Code, Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment all figure in establishing legal parameters in the Netherlands. The European Union (EU) directives also come into play along with Collective Labour Agreements (CAOs).

The combination of different laws provides comprehensive protection for employees in the Netherlands with mandatory provisions covering topics such as working hours, minimum wages, paid vacations, health and safety, anti-discrimination, illness, and injury benefits.

  • The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst)
  • The Social Security Bank (SVB), which coordinates the Dutch social insurance systems – national insurance (for individuals living in the Netherlands), and employee insurance (for those working in the country).
  • The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV)– this operates under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) and handles benefits covering such as unemployment and sickness.

When it comes to employment contracts, according to the law, all contract types must include the following information:

  • full details of employer and employee
  • employment location and employee’s role
  • usual working hours
  • start date of contract and end date if fixed term
  • salary and payment schedule
  • any probationary period
  • holiday entitlement
  • notice period

However, there are a number of different contract types, and each type also has their own rules to follow.

  • Permanent or Indefinite Employment Contracts (Vast contract)
  • Fixed term Employment Contracts
  • Temporary Employment Contracts (tijdelijk contract)
  • Probationary or Trial Period Employment (Proeftijd) 
  • Recruitment Agency Employment Contracts (Uitzend contract) 
  • Freelance Employment Contracts (DBA modelovereenkomst) 

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