Wait for agency worker laws to end ‘in weeks’
Addressing a plenary session of the social partners ahead of discussions on a successor to Towards 2016, Mr Ahern said the Employment Law Compliance Bill which will, among other things, place the National Employment Rights
Authority on a statutory footing, would be published later this month.
He then added: “Minister Micheál Martin is also currently finalising the bill to regulate employment agencies — a key commitment in Towards 2016 and an issue which I appreciate is of great concern to Congress. This, and other elements of our commitments on the employment protection and workplace agenda, will be in place over the coming weeks.”
The Government has repeatedly said over the last eight months that legislation protecting agency workers would be in place “within weeks” but has as yet failed to deliver.
SIPTU has confirmed in recent days it will not agree to any further social partnership agreements unless the principle of equality of treatment for agency workers is conceded in accordance with the standards that apply within the most advanced EU countries.
Overall, yesterday’s meeting of the relevant parties ahead of the new social partnership talks yielded few surprises.
As expected, Bertie Ahern said his government was committed to protecting worker rights but added: “Our goal should be to mitigate the economic risks which we face and to strengthen the competitiveness and productive capacity of the economy.”
IBEC said pay moderation was essential if Ireland was to safeguard its economic success and protect jobs, in an increasingly challenging economic climate.
IBEC director general Turlough O’Sullivan said: “Any new pay agreement must not hinder economic development or damage our ability to trade successfully with other countries.
“In the upcoming negotiations, pay moderation is an urgent requirement. If this does not happen jobs... will be lost and everyone will eventually lose out.”
SIPTU however, said IBEC’s call for pay moderation “rung hollow” with people trying to cope with one of the highest costs of living in Europe.
“Yes, we have to be concerned about competitiveness — but the pudding is being over-egged. Employment costs in Ireland are still ranking only 9th in the euro zone,” said SIPTU president Jack O’Connor.
