'Redundancy reform my top priority' - Rabbitte

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte has said that reform of redundancy legislation will be among his priorities in 2003.

At present, a worker laid off by his or her employer is legally entitled to just half-a-week's pay for every year of service up to the age of 41 and one week's pay for every subsequent year. Mr Rabbitte said these levels - which were set in 1967 - should be changed to ensure that laid off workers can leave their jobs with dignity.