Legislation on low earners due 'as early as possible' after break

LEGISLATION PROTECTING the pay of low-paid workers would be introduced “as early as possible” in the Dáil’s autumn session, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said.

This follows the recent High Court decision which found the current system of joint labour committees (JLCs) to be unconstitutional.

Mr Kenny said Fine Gael and Labour agreed the system should be reformed, adding that the court’s decision required “real analysis by the Government”.

He said Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton would bring a comprehensive response to the judicial decision to the Cabinet.

Mr Kenny said that while the Government would not oppose a Fianna Fáil Private Members’ Bill in the Dáil, it would not accept it. The Bill provides temporary protection for workers whose terms and conditions were covered by the structure.

“The legal advice I received is that it is not adequate,” he added.

Urging the Government to accept the Bill, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the judgment was not complicated and did not require lengthy study.

Mr Bruton, he said, appeared to insist on restoring some of the protection for vulnerable workers only if his personal agenda was accepted.

“The problem with this approach is that as many as 200,000 people are currently without a wide range of employment protections and many could see major reductions in their pay and conditions before the Government legislates sometime at the end of the year,” he said.

Mr Martin said there was an immediate emerging threat to the pay and conditions of those involved. “Whether there will be reform is not at issue, as every group, including trade unions, supports the need for a reformed system,” he said.

“What is at issue is why the Government is refusing to offer any protection, or take any steps, to guard the rights of workers in the coming months.”

Mr Kenny said the Government supported the principle enshrined in the Bill, but he had been advised it was not sufficiently robust to deal with the matter.

During the debate on the Bill, Fianna Fáil spokesman on jobs Willie O’Dea said it was not an anti-employer measure.

However, there was a small minority of employers who were not prepared to play the game on the same playing pitch as everybody else, he added.

Mr Bruton said that while the intentions were good, the Bill was not adequate. He added that the Bill was largely modelled on legislation the Fianna Fáil-led government introduced in 2009.

While it had passed second stage, that government did not proceed with it and saw a greater priority in bringing forward a Bill to cut the national minimum wage.

Mr Bruton said the current Government sought to restore the minimum wage, while protecting but reforming the JLC system.