Madam, - Arthur Morgan (Opinion & Analysis, July 25th) has highlighted once more the almost non-existent levels of labour law enforcement in this State. It is to be hoped that the new measures agreed under "Towards 2016" will finally end this blight on our society that allows gross exploitation of the most vulnerable people in our workforce.
However I was particularly intrigued by Mr Morgan's proposal for a penalty points system for serial offenders against the labour laws and his suggestion that they could then be struck off the companies register. While agreeing with the idea, I feel the impact of forcing a company to close might be disproportionate and counter-productive.
Instead, could I take the opportunity to revive an old hobby horse of mine and suggest that employers be licensed? After all, you need a licence to drive a car, run a pub, even to own a dog? Surely it is reasonable to licence people who want to employ others.
Anyone who failed to live up to the terms of the licence would incur penalty points. If they incurred too many points they would lose their employer's licence. This would not mean they would have to close down but it would mean that they would have to contract out their human resource functions to someone who abided by the law and had a clean employer's licence.
Above all, a licensing system would underline the important social responsibility incurred in employing other people - just as it does when driving a car, running a pub or caring for a dog. - Yours, etc,
PADRAIG YEATES, Balkill Road, Howth, Dublin 13.