Restaurateurs seek drop in wages for staff

The Small Firms Association is calling on the Government to allow small businesses to be exempt from some pieces of employment legislation.

Speaking in advance of tomorrow's launch of the Government's new jobs initiative, the group said employment law is a disincentive to job creation.

Elsewhere, the Restaurant Association of Ireland is calling on the Government to scrap the Sunday premium payments.

Under regulations, restaurateurs must pay staff an extra 33% in wages for working on a Sunday.

The RAI would also like to see Joint Labour Committees abolished.

JLC's create a premium on top of the national minimum wage which must be paid by the sector.

Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins said more jobs would be created if JLC's were abolished.