Man fled from Kildare beauty salon when official arrived to check work permits, court told
Three people did not have work permits for where they were working
A man absconded from a nails and beauty salon when an official arrived to check work permits.
This was the claim made at Naas District Court where Anh Tu Nguyen ,45, proprietor of the Sunny Nails and Beauty Salon whose address was given as 31 Duke Street, Athy.
He was prosecuted for breaching the Employment Permits Act on December 11, 2022 and January 8, 2023.
Lorraine Broderick of the Workplace Relations Commission said that on one visit three employees, all Vietnamese people, did not have work permits to work at that business.
Ms Broderick told the court they had work permits related to other employers such the Kildare Chilling Company and Rosderra, both meat processing businesses.
Ms Broderick said that one of those present was the wife of the defendant.
On January 8, Ms Broderick added, she returned to the premises and an employee absconded and she recognised this person as one of the people who had been working there previously.
Ms Broderick said the owner indicated that the business had only just reopened and “he needed help.”
She added that the visits were unannounced and do not take place during normal working hours.
She also said that three were legally in Ireland.
The court heard that the business has a turnover of €4,500 a week and the owner is a naturalised Irish citizen.
It was stated on the defendant’s behalf that he did not fully know the law relating to work permits and the three work permits held were in date.
In another case the defendant knew the woman and she stepped in to replace someone who was out sick.
The court also heard that the business has been operating for six years without incident and the defendant's wife is applying for citizenship.
The court also heard the defendant is a very popular member of the Athy community.
Judge Desmond Zaidan commented that when State agencies do not link up and share information, abuse can occur. He said abuse of the system is “rampant.”
He noted that the defendant committed another offence after the initial visit.
He added that employment law exists to protect the State and to protect employees from abuse by employers.
He imposed fines totalling €12,500. The defendant was also told to pay costs of €1,850.