Cabinet in talks on JLC reforms

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.

Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton had hoped to reach a conclusion today on the reform of Joint Labour Committees (JLCs), which had become the first source of division between the Coalition partners.

But Government impetus on the contentious issue declined after the High Court postponed a ruling in a case challenging the constitutionality of the legally binding agreements, which cover areas such as overtime and Sunday pay in certain sectors including retail and hospitality.