Madam, - I thought I was the only one who held views on the licensing of employers. Anytime I mentioned the subject, people's eyes glazed over and I never seemed to hold their attention. Now I realise that Arthur Morgan TD (Opinion & Analysis, July 25th) and Padraig Yeates (July 26th) have similar views.
I have been involved on both sides of the labour market. I have worked for and seen examples of fair employers who treated young people as they would like to be treated themselves, firmly but fairly. These character-building employers sometimes became role models.
I have also seen brutes who destroyed young people's confidence when they were starting out. I know of one employer of whom it is often said he should hire Croke Park for a reunion of all his former staff. He only employs two at any time .
Years later these people who came into the workforce with such promise are disgruntled, bitter, broken, and practically unemployable. Sometimes they become angry "leftie" union officials with a grudge against all employers - and everyone knows the problems they can cause.
Licensing is a great idea and perhaps it could be expanded a little to include mandatory training courses in industrial relations and labour law for all employers. Ibec and its sidekicks will put forward the argument about "red tape", etc, but if they look at this idea logically they may see it could solve a lot of problems for both sides before they start. - Yours, etc,
PAUL EGAN, Tullaghanogue, Trim, Co Meath.