asked the Minister for Lands whether in connection with the building of houses for the use of persons to whom holdings are given on the division of an estate it is the practice in certain circumstances to do such building work by direct labour, and, if so, whether the rates of wages and other conditions of employment observed are as favourable to the workers as if they were employed by a person performing the work under a contract containing a Fair Wages clause.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Housing on Divided Estates.
asked the Minister for Lands whether a Fair Wages clause has been inserted in all contracts entered into for the building of houses for the use of persons to whom holdings are given on the division of estates.
I propose to take the Deputy's two questions together.
In certain circumstances the Land Commission find it advisable to carry out building work directly instead of giving it out to contractors.
It is usual, in cases in which the Land Commission themselves undertake the construction of buildings, to carry out the work by part contracts according to the trades involved, the materials being supplied by the Land Commission. The contract agreement binding each such tradesman contains a fair wages clause to protect the workers employed by him.
Where it is not found possible to place part contracts and the tradesmen and labourers are paid at a daily wage, the rate paid is based on that obtaining locally and so compares favourably with the wages paid by building contractors in the district.
When the Land Commission let building work wholly by contract, the contract documents signed by the contractor contain the usual Fair Wages clause.