Reforms to JLCs don’t go far enough, says IBEC
IBEC believes that while some of the government's new wage proposals are an improvement, that the entire JLC system should be scrapped
Print12 September 2011
Reforms to the Joint Labour Committee and Registered Employment Agreement wage agreement were announced by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton on 26 July.
The new measures mean that the number of JLCs will be reduced from 13 to 6.
JLCs will have the power to set only a basic adult rate and two higher increments to reflect longer periods of service.
There will no longer be a Sunday premium rate or any other conditions of employment covered in existing legislation, but the special position of Sunday working will still be recognised.
Factors such as unemployment rates, competitiveness and wage trends will now have to be taken into account when setting JLC rates.
These decisions were made in light of a High Court action taken by John Grace Fried Chicken and the Quick Service Food Alliance when it was ruled that the Joint Labour Committee system of setting wages for lower paid workers was unconstitutional.
However IBEC director Brendan McGinty said it would prefer to see complete abolition of the entire JLC system.
“While some of the proposals, such as the abolition of Sunday premiums, are an improvement over the last regime, the entire JLC system should have been consigned to history.
“The recent High Court decision created a better environment to maintain current employment and create new jobs. Sufficient time should have been given to see how the labour market adjusted, before a rush to bring in new legislation,” McGinty said.
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