Workers to protest proposed changes in wage-setting mechanisms

A protest will take place outside the Dáil later against controversial plans to reform wage-setting mechanisms in the hotel, catering and cleaning sectors.

Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton has said he aims to introduce a raft of changes by the end of this year, including cutting overtime and Sunday pay agreements.

TDs from the United Left Alliance, who are staging today's protest, claim the reform would take away vital protections for vulnerable workers.

Socialist TD Joe Higgins says the move would decimate the already-low wages of more than a quarter of a million workers.

"The basic wages of the workers who are depending on the Joint Labour Committees and the employment regulations are very low," said Mr Higgins.

"They manage to get those wages up somewhat by extras for unsocial hours, for Sunday working, etc.

"They absolutely depend on those extras. It would be a crushing blow if those were removed."