Employers and trade unions have clashed over whether or not the abolition of wage-setting mechanisms through the courts has led to an increase in the number of workers hired by businesses.

The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) is "outraged" with the Government’s decision to reintroduce the JLC wage-setting system.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton has today published legislation to implement reforms to wage setting mechanisms.

LEGISLATION to protect low-paid workers’ pay and conditions will be published by the Government today.

ALMOST half of restaurants have seen their business increase turnover in the last eight months compared with the previous year, a survey has found.

THE bitter Coalition wrangle over Fine Gael’s bid to overhaul wage safeguards for the low paid appeared to end in a setback for Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton last night.

The Cabinet has agreed to proceed to draft legislation to resolve the issues around wage agreements.

Sinn Féin has announced its alternative plan to the Government's decision to abolish the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) agreements for workers in certain industries.

A HIGH Court decision upholding a challenge by fast food operators to an order setting minimum pay and conditions for catering workers outside Dublin has serious implications for the pay and conditions of about 200,000 low-paid workers.

THE Government will bring in temporary measures to protect up to 200,000 low-paid workers affected by a High Court decision on wage-setting mechanisms, Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has said.

The High Court yesterday found that there were insufficient principles and policies in the legislation governing the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) system to permit it to operate constitutionally.

The Government is examining ways to protect the pay and conditions of tens of thousands of workers after the High Court ruled wage contracts for low-earners were unconstitutional.

The Government must introduce laws protecting wage contracts for low earners after the High Court ruled they were unconstitutional, a trade union has warned.

The fast-food sector has taken on the joint labour committee system and won.

THE Tánaiste has confirmed the Government will hold talks with the European Central Bank in the autumn about inflicting losses on senior bondholders at Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide.

ONE of the country’s senior trade unionists has accused the IMF/EU/ECB troika of “wanting to make Ireland an economic laboratory”, as he insisted cutting workers’ wages will not create jobs.

TENSE discussions over the reform of wage agreements will continue at Cabinet today but Labour and Fine Gael ministers do not expect agreement will be reached.

Pay agreements for low earners, the banking crisis and job creation will be top of the agenda for trade unionists this week.

CONSUMERS have been urged to use their buying power to ensure VAT cuts lead to lower prices in restaurants, hairdressers, hotels and other recreational services.

SPECIAL rates for Sunday work will not apply to new employees in the retail, hospitality and other sectors under proposals brought to Cabinet this week, Minister for Employment Richard Bruton has confirmed.

SENIOR ministers from Fine Gael and Labour have clashed over the impact that proposed changes to wage agreements would have on the social welfare bill.

ENTERPRISE Minister Richard Bruton has been warned that his proposals to reform wage-setting mechanisms could cause poverty for hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers.

ENTERPRISE Minister Richard Bruton has vowed to get plans to overhaul wages for low-paid workers passed through Cabinet despite opposition from TDs.

The National Women's Council of Ireland is accusing Jobs Minister Richard Bruton of ignoring their requests for a meeting on proposed changes to wage agreements known as Joint Labour Committees.

The Enterprise and Jobs Minister has indicated that any reform of JLCs may only apply to newly hired workers.

A number of lobby groups have met with the Jobs and Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton in Dublin to discuss plans to reform wage-setting agreements.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton is to meet with the Restaurants Association of Ireland today to discuss JLC wage-setting agreements.

The number of people signing on the dole has increased further, taking the unemployment rate to 14.8%.

THE Labour Party believes there is a need to change wage agreements for lower-paid workers, according to leader Eamon Gilmore.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny and his Government are enjoying the afterglow of two very successful international visits and the poll published yesterday, as the Government approaches 100 days in office, will do nothing to dent its confidence.

Business groups have welcomed proposals to reform the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) wage-setting mechanisms.

Workers are calling on the Restaurant Association of Ireland to stop its moves to abolish the Catering Employment Regulation Order - also known as a JLC - which sets wages for the industry.

EMPLOYERS concerned about wage costs for overtime and Sunday work were told that special hourly rates should remain after a report stopped short of recommending immediate pay changes.

A REVIEW of the legally binding agreements which set the wages for more than 200,000 workers has concluded that the current system should be maintained to protect the employment standards of vulnerable workers.

A PROPOSED overhaul of premium pay for weekend and overtime workers in the catering and retail sectors is set to lead to clashes among the Coalition partners.

THERE has been some discussion in the media in relation to “Registered Employment Agreements” and how they affect employers in the construction sector.

AFTER legal challenges by employers in a number of sectors, the Government has moved to secure binding industry employment agreements governing worker terms and conditions.

IBEC will today demand the Government radically overhaul the system which sets wages and conditions for up to 170,000 workers, claiming it is out of touch with the current recession.

The High Court action calls existing industrial relations law and practice into question, writes Stephen Rogers.