New legislation to streamline employment rights bodies has been signed into law and will take effect on 1 October.

The Workplace Relations Act 2015 will replace the current five industrial relations bodies with two in a bid to simplify procedures and reduce cost.

The Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation has estimated the cost of running the reformed workplace relations institutions will fall by €2m a year, or 10% when the merger is completed.

It also estimates the number of staff assigned to the bodies will fall by 20% through the generation of increased efficiency.

The Workplace Relations Commission will deal with all complaints at first instance.

It will incorporate the functions of the Labour Relations Commission (including the Rights Commissioner Service), the Equality Tribunal, the National Employment Rights Authority and the first instance jurisdiction of the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

Current LRC Chief Executive Kieran Mulvey has been appointed Director General Designate of the WRC.

The Labour Court will be expanded to address all appeals from the WRC - including appeals that would traditionally have gone to the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

Industrial sources have long acknowledged that current system involving five bodies, with different procedures and appeals structures, was too complex and in urgent need of reform.

Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton said there had already been major progress in achieving the two principal goals of delivering a better service to employers and employees, and delivering savings for the taxpayer, businesses and workers.

His Department believes the cost of running the new bodies will be reduced through staff cuts, eliminating duplication and centralising administration and case management services.