23rd October 2023
The Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond TD, has approved the recommendations of the Labour Court Review of the Joint Labour Committees (JLCs).
The Review was undertaken by the Labour Court in line with legislation introduced in 2012 requiring a review of the JLCs at least every five years.
The Review recommends maintenance of the nine JLCs already in existence: Agricultural Workers; Catering; Contract Cleaning; Hairdressing; Hotels; Retail; Grocery and Allied Trades; Security; Early Years Learning; and English Language Schools. There are currently three Employment Regulation Orders in place covering workers in the contract cleaning, early years learning and the security industry.
In its Review, the Labour Court concluded that the maintenance of all the existing JLCs will promote harmonious relations between workers and employers and assist in the avoidance of industrial unrest.
Minister Richmond said:
“I welcome the Labour Court review recommendations and I am happy to announce my approval of the Review. Joint Labour Committees provide an important opportunity for employers and workers to negotiate their wages and terms of employment. I encourage both employers and workers to engage in the JLC process where available as it benefits and provides consistency to workers and employers in a given sector. A sectoral Employment Regulation Order provides wage certainty and security for employees and helps employers attract and retain talented employees. I am currently working with the social partners to examine how we can further strengthen and improve the JLC system to benefit more workers, particularly in vulnerable sectors of the economy. I remain strongly supportive of the JLCs and their contribution to positive industrial relations.”
Note to Editors
JLCs provide for collective bargaining of a wage-setting mechanism that determines terms and conditions of employment, as well as setting minimum rates of pay for workers in certain sectors. In the sectors represented, the agreed terms and conditions are given effect in law by means of Employment Regulation Orders made by the Minister.
ENDS
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