An Equality Officer found that Coolash Construction Ltd discriminated against Valdas Bartkevicius on racial grounds by requiring him to operate dumper and roller vehicles before he had the necessary licence. The officer ordered €2,500 compensation in a decision dated 13 October 2010.
Bartkevicius, a general operative at Huntstown Power Station, said he had been pressured to operate the machinery without proper training and paid €500 for his own dumper training. The company denied instructing him to drive without a licence and said a licensed driver was available. The officer accepted Bartkevicius’s evidence and found the pressure was put on him because of his nationality.
The officer rejected his claim that his dismissal was discriminatory, finding the company had justification for dismissing him after a serious site accident. His racial harassment claim also failed because he provided no supporting evidence. The officer ordered the compensation for the discrimination found in the machinery duties complaint.