Government to publish legislation on JLCs

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

It will see an overhaul of wage-setting mechanisms.

Backbench TDs and trade unions are expected to welcome the changes to the Joint Labour Committee (JLCs) agreements, which will see a basic adult wage rate set for low-paid sectors.

JLC agreements have traditionally covered sectors such as catering, hotels, retail, grocery, and security, where staff also frequently work antisocial hours. The system has until now decided hourly pay rates for more than 200,000 workers.

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton came under fire earlier this year after plans to overhaul the wage safeguards for these sectors were criticised by workers’ representatives and politicians within the Coalition. In July, he said he was keen to adapt the legislation after a High Court ruling which effectively removed protections for workers.

The reforms expected to be announced today include the introduction of one main wage level as opposed to about 300 under the old system. A limited number of higher pay rates through increments may be agreed, particularly for workers with longer experience.

While JLCs until now have decided sunday premium pay rates, the Labour Court will play a more enhanced role in arbitrating over such wages.

The number of JLCs is also expected to be reduced from 13 and possibly even halved under the legislation to be debated in the Dáil in the new year.

Colm Keaveney, a Labour TD who opposed the initial plans, said: “It will be a challenge for the minister now to make sure there are adequate resources for areas like the Labour Relations Commission, so disputes can be sorted. I’m hopeful that this will be the most comprehensive piece of industrial relations legislation in this century to date.”

Trade union leaders are also understood to have been in talks with Mr Bruton’s officials right up until this week and are hopeful that “last-minute concessions” to protect workers pay were agreed in the bill.

A spokesman for Mr Bruton last night said: “The bill agreed by Government will give legal effect to the programme of reforms agreed by Government in July.”

The legislation will also allow for companies to claim they cannot afford certain pay rates if they face financial difficulty.

Changes to the JLC system were agreed under the EU/IMF bailout and follow the Duffy Walsh report earlier this year which called for a “radical overhaul so as to make it fairer and more responsive to changing economic circumstances and labour market changes”.