WRC lacked jurisdiction over translator’s five employment complaints

The Workplace Relations Commission found it had no jurisdiction to hear five employment complaints brought by Tomas Koczur against Forbidden City Ltd Translation.ie. The decision, dated 28 July 2023, said the merits of those complaints were not decided. Koczur argued that he was an employee, pointing to the company’s control over assignments and features such as tax deductions and holiday pay. The company said he worked as a freelance interpreter under a contract for services. The adjudicator found Koczur could refuse assignments without adverse consequences and could work for other translation services. She concluded that the parties lacked the mutual obligation to provide and perform work required for a contract of employment, so the WRC had no jurisdiction to hear the complaints.