Ireland is required to transpose EU Directive 2019/1152 into Irish law by August 2022, though some of its provisions were pre-empted by the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018.

A consultation paper published on Friday seeks views on issues including probationary periods at the beginning of a job; the right to predictable working hours; the right to redress; and the right to protection against adverse treatment.

Employment minister Leo Varadkar said: “Much of what is required under this Directive has already been implemented, such as the restriction on zero-hour contracts, and we are now moving to implement the remaining provisions.

“We will be considering putting limits on the length of time an employer can put a worker on probation and ensuring workers get the training they need to do their job. We will also be ensuring more reasonable periods of notice are given when work is unpredictable in nature.

“I look forward to considering all views received. I also want to make sure that any changes won’t damage job creation or create unrealistic or onerous obligations on employers.”

The Directive covers all workers in all forms of work, including those in the most flexible non-standard and new forms of work such as casual work, domestic work, voucher-based work or platform work. The Directive also contains targeted provisions on enforcement, to make sure that workers effectively benefit from these rights.

The consultation will run until 3pm on Monday 25 October 2021.