Recent statements from IBEC suggest that social partnership is now finished, according to the General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Speaking at the CORI Justice Commission’s 14th Annual Social Policy Conference, Mr Begg said it seemed that employers were unwilling to enter another agreement.
Mr Begg was responding to claims made by IBEC that its members believe entry to a new agreement would be pointless and misleading.
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has said that the country is heading for a wages free-for-all, which has the potential to derail some of the economic achievements made in last few years.