To ask the Minister of Finance when those civil servants on agency contracts, who did not receive their back-pay for the 2020 period by the end of February 2022, will receive their back-pay.

ANSWER

It is the responsibility of the Civil Service’s contracted recruitment agencies to pay their employees the appropriate rates of pay and manage any pay adjustments or claims for back pay during the contract term.

The majority of agency workers have now received back pay for the 2020 period. Work is ongoing to finalise calculations a small number of agency workers due back pay for this period. NICSHR officials in my Department continue to support the recruitment agencies to complete calculations of back pay due to their employees. It is expected that recruitment agencies to pay any remaining 2020 back pay to their employees before the end of this financial year.

The Civil Service previously had a contract with Kennedy Recruitment to provide recruitment agency workers. Kennedy Recruitment has been placed into liquidation. I am aware of c70 Kennedy Recruitment employees who are owed back pay in relation to assignments with the Civil Service and the Solicitor’s Office in my Department is currently considering the Civil Service’s legal position in relation to these Kennedy employees.