Laundries (Conditions of Work) Regulation Order, 2026

L.N. 135 of 2026

EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT

(CAP. 452)

Laundries (Conditions of Work) Regulation Order, 2026

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by article 4(1) of the

Employment and Industrial Relations Act, the Minister responsible for

employment and industrial relations has made the following order:-

(1) The title of this order is the Laundries (Conditions of Citation,

commencement

Work) Regulation Order, 2026.

and

applicability.

(2) This order shall come into force within two (2) months

from its date of publication in the Gazette.

(3) The provisions established in this order shall apply to all

employees in any undertaking or part of an undertaking, the activities

of which consist wholly or mainly in the cleaning by wet or dry

processes, pressing, dyeing or repairing by hand or machine apparel of

any kind, linens and household furnishings, and for all employees in

any laundry in a hotel where such a laundry is not run

exclusively for the use of the hotel and its visitors

Provided that in the event that there is a collective

agreement applicable to the class of employees covered by this order,

the more favourable conditions in such agreement or in this order shall

prevail.

In this Order unless the context otherwise requires

Interpretation.

"Act" means the Employment and Industrial Relations Act; Cap. 452.

"customary holidays" means the days, other than Sundays, Cap. 252.

declared for the time being to be public holidays under the

National Holidays and other Public Holidays Act;

"collective agreement" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act;

"day" means a period running from 12:00a.m. of one day to

12:00a.m. of the next following day;

"double time" means twice the actual time rate applicable

to the employee;

"half-day" means a period of twelve (12) consecutive hours

ending at 1:00 p.m. or 1:00 a.m.;

"hours of work" shall have the same meaning as assigned to

it in the Act;

"part-time employee" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act;

"period of employment" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act;

"rest period" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it

in the Organisation of Working Time Regulations;

"time-and-a-half" means one and a half times the actual

time rate applicable to the employee;

"wages" means remuneration or earnings, payable by an

employer to an employee and includes any bonus payable under

article 23 of the Act, other than any bonus or allowance related to

performance or production;

"week" means a calendar week;

"whole-time employee" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in the Act.

The minimum weekly wages shall be related to a week of

not more than

(a) forty-two (42) hours of work between April and

September and thirty-eight (38) hours of work between October

and March in the case of whole-time employees, other than

watchmen; and

(b)

fifty-four (54) hours of work in the case of watchmen.

Whole-time employees shall be entitled to the following

minimum weekly wages

(a) watchperson whose duties are mainly performed

indoors............................................................................€309.74;

(b) watchperson whose duties are mainly performed out

of doors..........................................................................€313.82;

(c)

other whole-time employees.........................€229.44.

(1) When the employee is required to wear a uniform in Uniform

the performance of the employee’s duties, such uniform shall be allowance.

provided by the employer free of charge.

(2) Personal protective equipment according to the Minimum S.L. 646.13.

Requirements for the use of Personal Protective Equipment at Work

Regulations shall also be provided by the employer free of charge.

Whole-time employees, other than watchpersons, shall be Minimum daily

allowed intervals for meals and rest of not less, in the aggregate, than rest.

one (1) hour every day.

All employees shall be entitled to a weekly rest period in Minimum

weekly rest.

accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Regulations.

(1) In the case of whole-time employees, other than Minimum

overtime rates.

watchpersons, overtime shall be payable as follows

(a) for all time worked in excess of forty-two (42) hours

per week between April and September and for all time worked

in excess of thirty-eight (38) hours per week between October

and March................................................................ time and a

half;

(b) in the case of employees employed on a five and a

half (5½) day week, Saturday included, for all time worked over

seven hours and 40 minutes (7.40) in any day from Monday to

Friday or over four (4) hours on a Saturday between April and

September, and for all time worked over six hours and 45

minutes (6.45) in any day from Monday to Friday or over four

(4) hours on a Saturday between October and March..............

time and a half;

(c) in the case of employees employed on a five (5) day

week, Monday to Friday, for all time worked over eight hours

and a half (8½), between April and September, and for all time

worked over seven and a half (7½) hours between October and

March............................. time and a half;

(d)

for all time worked on Sundays.............double time;

(e) for all time worked on a customary holiday in

addition to holiday pay........................................... double time

Provided that there shall be paid to all whole-time

employees, other than watchpersons, overtime at time and a half

(a)

for all work in excess of thirty-four (34) hours

in any week during which a customary holiday falls on any

day between Monday and Friday, or in excess of thirty-

eight (38) hours where such a holiday falls on a Saturday

between April and September; and

(b) for all work in excess of thirty-one (31) hours in

any week during which a customary holiday falls on any

day between Monday and Friday, or in excess of thirty-four

(34) hours where such holiday falls on a Saturday between

October and March, in either case exclusive of time paid

for at overtime rates.

(2) Overtime at the rate of time and a half shall be payable to

watchpersons for all time worked in excess of fifty-four (54) hours in a

period of six (6) consecutive days, and at the rate of double time for all

time worked on the seventh (7) day and, or on a customary holiday so

however that, if a customary holiday falls on the seventh (7) day,

overtime shall be payable only at the rate of double time.

The employee shall be entitled to annual leave in

accordance with the Organisation of Working Time Regulations.

(1) A whole-time employee shall in every calendar year

be entitled to the equivalent in hours of twelve (12) days sick leave on

full pay, less an amount equal to the sum established for sickness

benefit entitlement at the rate determined in accordance with the

Social Security Act, and part-time employees shall have a pro rata

entitlement to sick leave in hours on full pay, less an amount equal to

the sum established for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate

determined in accordance with the Social Security Act, which amount

shall also be calculated on a pro rata basis

Provided that

(a) the first three (3) days of any claim for sick leave

shall be paid in full by the employer;

(b) a medical certificate covering the period of absence

shall be produced to the employer on the day of return to work

or, if such period of absence exceeds seven (7) days, within

seven (7) days of the commencement of such absence due to sick

leave;

(c) employees receiving a social security pension in

respect of retirement or widowhood in accordance with the

Social Security Act shall, for the purpose of calculating the sick

leave payment due, be deemed to have received an amount equal

to the sum established for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate

determined in accordance with the Social Security Act.

(2) A whole-time employee shall in every calendar year be

entitled to the equivalent in hours of a further thirty-six (36) days sick

leave on half pay, less an amount equal to half the sum established for

sickness benefit entitlement at the rate determined in accordance with

the Social Security Act, and part time employees shall have a pro rata

entitlement to sick leave in hours on half pay, less an amount equal to

half the sum established for sickness benefit entitlement at the rate

determined in accordance with the Social Security Act, which amount

shall also be calculated on a pro rata basis

Provided that

(a) the first three (3) days of any claim for sick leave

shall be paid at half pay by the employer;

(b) a medical certificate covering the period of absence is

produced to the employer on the day of return to work or, if such

period of absence exceeds seven (7) days, within seven (7) days

of the commencement of such absence due to sick leave.

(c) employees receiving a social security pension in

respect of retirement or widowhood in accordance with the

Social Security Act shall, for the purpose of calculating the sick Cap. 318.

leave payment due, be deemed to have received an amount equal

to half the sum established for sickness benefit entitlement at the

rate determined in accordance with the Social Security Act.

(3) Sick leave entitlements shall apply from the first (1) day of

employment

Provided that the said entitlement shall be calculated pro

rata in accordance with the date of employment in the relative

calendar.

(4) For the purpose of sub-articles (1) and (2), a break in

employment of not more than forty-eight (48) days shall not interrupt

the continuity of service.

(5) The employer may require a medical certificate by a

physician of his choice to certify that the employee was not fit for

work during the period of absence due to sick leave.

(6) The sick leave entitlement shall be calculated on the basis

provided for annual leave as specified in regulation 8(1) of the S.L. 452.87.

Organisation of Working Time Regulations.

An employee shall be entitled to the payment of the

minimum wage applicable to him for all times during which he is

present on the premises of his employer unless he is present thereon in

any of the following circumstances

(a)

without the employer’s express or implied consent;

(b) for some purpose unrelated with his work, other than

that of waiting for work to be assigned to him;

(c)

solely due to the fact that he is resident thereon;

(d) during normal meal times in a room or place in which

no work is being carried out, and he is not waiting for any work

to be assigned to him.

Employees shall be entitled to the national holidays and to

all public holidays with full pay, to all forms of leave in accordance

with the Minimum Special Leave Entitlement Regulations and all

other forms of leave that may, from time to time, be stipulated in the

National Standard Orders or any regulations made under the Act.

The Laundries Wages Council Order and the Laundries

Wages Council Wage Regulation Order are hereby repealed without

prejudice to anything done or omitted to be done thereunder.

€0.54