Irish Meat Plant Hit with €40,000 Fine for Director’s Harassment

UPDATE: An Irish meat plant, Asba Meats, has been ordered to pay over €40,000 to a female employee after the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) confirmed she was sexually harassed by the company director. The ruling, which comes amid growing scrutiny of workplace safety, highlights alarming abuses of power in employment settings.

The WRC found that a director at the Shannon-based Halal meat plant sought inappropriate favors from the worker in exchange for assistance with her employment conditions, including her work hours and pay. The incident, which occurred on May 22, 2024, involved the director explicitly requesting a head massage and “company” during stressful times, a demand the WRC deemed profoundly troubling.

WRC adjudication officer Ewa Sobanska stated that the director exploited the woman’s financial vulnerability, as she was facing issues with delayed wages and limited work hours. This manipulation resulted in the WRC awarding her €25,000 for the emotional and psychological impact of the harassment.

Authorities emphasized the need for Asba Meats to implement comprehensive workplace policies against harassment and ensure staff training to prevent future occurrences. The plant has also been ordered to compensate the worker an additional €6,500 for her unfair dismissal, which occurred after a Garda inspection, despite her having a valid work permit.

The WRC found that Asba Meats failed to provide proper procedures before terminating her employment and did not offer reasons for the dismissal, rendering it unjust. Furthermore, she was awarded an additional €8,500 after the WRC ruled that she had been discriminated against as a part-time worker, lacking a written contract and timely payments compared to full-time employees.

The tribunal noted that while the complainant alleged gender discrimination regarding pay—claiming she earned €12.70 per hour compared to male colleagues earning €13—there was insufficient evidence to support this claim.

Evidence presented included disturbing text messages where the director suggested a head massage in exchange for support with work-related issues, creating a hostile and intimidating environment for the employee.

The complainant, represented by the Migrant Rights Centre, described feeling “overwhelmed with fear” regarding her job security and the impact of refusing the director’s advances. After the investigation led to her dismissal, she struggled for 20 weeks to find new employment, ultimately securing a better-paying role as a trimmer.

Asba Meats did not attend the tribunal hearing held in June 2025 and failed to engage with the WRC regarding the claims made by the employee, raising further concerns about the company’s accountability.

This case underscores a critical need for robust workplace protections, especially for vulnerable workers facing exploitation. As investigations continue, the focus remains on ensuring safe and respectful environments for all employees, emphasizing the importance of accountability at all levels within the workplace.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as it unfolds.