SIPTU warns of agency worker abuse

IF THE “cancer” of agency worker abuse continues, any economic downturn could see Irish people as well as foreigners will be forced to compete on the basis of how cheaply they can provide their skills.

That was the warning from SIPTU president Jack O’Connor last night as his union launched its Justice for Agency Workers campaign. The campaign comes in advance of the publication by the Government of legislation that it claims will regulate and protect agency workers. The trade union movement is concerned it will not go far enough.

At yesterday’s launch Mr O’Connor said: “The abuse of agency workers is the most serious issue of substance in the workplace. Other issues tend to create greater flashpoints but in the case of agency workers we have an absence of legislation to protect the workers.

Although it has not been receiving a great deal of exposure the fact is that it has been growing like a cancer in our society.”

He said the union believed agency employment was increasing.

“Agencies are employed as a means of ratcheting down pay and conditions. We had a survey carried out of agency employees. They came up with a number of 125,000 workers that we think was actually under the actual number.”

He warned the situation will deteriorate in the event of an economic downturn.

“Workers will be forced to compete on the basis of how cheaply they are willing to work,” he said.

“We have had the example of Irish Ferries where employers have tried to replace their whole workforce with agencies. We are campaigning for enactment of legislation that will guarantee equality of treatment for workers employed by agencies.

“That is enshrined in legislation in most European countries,” he said.

He said if the legislation were to be enacted in Ireland, it would open up the possibility of greater competition, which is one of the things the Government is pushing for.

“Thus far the Government has refused to concede on the principle and while they have promoted social partnership on the one hand, simultaneously they have conspired with Britain, Germany and Denmark to block the enactment of the directive at EU level to protect agency workers. The time has come quite frankly to decide. We are not going to be able to continue to have social partnership on the one hand and this on the other. That time is coming very soon indeed.”