Labour inspectorate - New agency must be given teeth

THE principle of protecting workers’ rights, a major plank of the national partnership talks, would be significantly advanced by the creation of a new super-agency to replace the current ineffectual system.

Firm proposals to create such an agency or, alternatively, to beef up and possibly merge the combined resources of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and the Government’s labour inspectorate, are centre stage at the ongoing talks between employers and workers.

Resolving this key issue is now crucial to the success of these negotiations.