Diluting worker protections - A poor decision

Some of the issues challenging establishment politics are the many changes around work, work security and hard-won protections designed to protect employees from those who might exploit them.

A labour court ruling that racehorse training yards and stud farms are not regarded as agriculture and may not enjoy any derogation from the Working Time Act is one area where those issues are playing out.

The bloodstock industry has expressed concern about the impact the ruling might have on work practices.

The sector has done so successfully and the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has sought cabinet approval for an exemption for the industry from legislation which protects stable staff.

How disheartening it is that once again our Government backs the most powerful players at the expense of workers who are not, by any standard, overpaid.

Rules are rules and unless they are applied equally they become options to be disposed of at will and the weakest will suffer the consequences. The minister and the Government are backing the wrong horse on this issue.