It is understood that this is the first time the Labour Court will be examining the pay, pensions, conditions and sick pay scheme of any sector under the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015, which Business and Employment Minister Ged Nash introduced last year.

This is the first step that the Labour Court takes when examining if a sectoral employment order is appropriate in any particular industry.

Minister Nash said: “The Industrial Relations Act 2015 allows for greater protections for workers and stability for employers and it provides for the making of what is now known as a Sectoral Employment Order.

“This important wage setting mechanism is one of the innovations of this legislation and I would encourage anyone who has an interest in the commercial archaeological sector to make a submission to the Labour Court."

“I am very pleased to see this work being carried out by the Labour Court under the 2015 Act as I believe sectoral employment orders, once agreed, can bring a real sense of stability and confidence to both sides of industry who openly engage and this will benefit not just the workers, but employers too, particularly when it comes to tendering for contracts.”

The closing date for submissions is Monday 2 of May and they can be sent by email to info@labourcourt.ie or by post to The Secretary, The Labour Court, Tom Johnson House, Haddington Road, Dublin 4.

Advertisements on the submissions process are being printed in the national press from today.