What the Law Says
Common Signs Your Wages May Have Been Underpaid
Your employer consistently paid you late, paid less than agreed, or stopped paying you entirely.
Deductions for housing or meals brought your take-home pay below €979 per month.
You never received written wage statements, making it impossible to verify what was paid and what was deducted.
Your employer told you that you owe them a sum on leaving, without providing documentation or a lawful basis.
Money was taken from your wages for breakages or till shortfalls without a written agreement.
What You May Be Entitled To
All wages owed but not paid, including any notice period if applicable.
Recovery of amounts deducted without lawful basis or written agreement.
If net wages fell below the statutory minimum, you may be owed the difference for every pay period affected.
Any accrued but unpaid annual leave is typically payable on termination of employment.
Evidence to Gather
- Bank statements — showing every payment received from your employer. These establish what you were actually paid.
- Payslips — if you received any. If none, that is itself evidence of a breach.
- Employment contract — showing your agreed wage and any authorised deductions.
- WhatsApp or text messages — any communication about pay, deductions, or money owed.
- Rota or shift records — confirming hours worked.
- Accommodation receipts or agreement — if deductions were made for housing or meals.
What You Can Do Next
A professional resolution letter requesting outstanding wages and documentation. WorkerShield generates this for €10 — personalised to your situation.
If your employer does not respond, the Department can investigate wage violations. Tel: +357 22 405 600.
The IDT handles unpaid wages claims. Time limit: 3 months from the incident. No filing fee, and you can self-represent.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can write a formal letter requesting payment, file a complaint with the Department of Labour Inspection, or apply to the Industrial Disputes Tribunal. WorkerShield can help you prepare a resolution letter and assess your situation.
You have 3 months from the date of the incident to file at the Industrial Disputes Tribunal. For breach of contract claims, the limit is 6 years. Act quickly.
No. Under the Protection of Wages Law 35(I)/2007, deductions must be lawfully authorised, agreed in writing, and must not reduce your pay below the statutory minimum wage.
The national minimum wage is €979 per month on hire, rising to €1,088 after 6 months of continuous employment. Hotel workers have separate minimums.
No. It is unlawful to dismiss or penalise you for asserting your wage rights. If this happens, the burden of proof is on the employer to show the dismissal was unrelated to your complaint.