asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that employees of horticultural nurseries are treated as agricultural workers for the purpose of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts, and whether he will take steps to ensure that such workers will in future receive the same benefits as industrial workers in view, of the fact that they are ordinarily resident in municipal areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Classification of Horticultural Workers.
Employees in horticultural nuiseries who are engaged on agricultural work are regarded as agricultural workers for the purposes of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts irrespective of their place of residence. The rate of contributions paid in respect of them is only half of that paid for industrial employees, and it would not be possible to give them the same rate of benefits without increasing the contributions. It is not proposed to make the residence of the worker the criterion for determining the rates of contributions or benefits.
Is it not true in fact that these workers' circumstances are closely analogous to industrial workers and would the Parliamentary Secretary not consider some scheme whereunder the rate of benefit to which their widows would be entitled should be made identical with that of those living in exactly the same circumstances?
Under Section 2 of the Agricultural Wages Act, 1936, the expression "agriculture" includes nursery work and market gardening.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that under the Conditions of Employment Act market gardeners are treated as industrial workers whereas agricultural labourers are not and that it is only for the purposes of the Agricultural Wages Act and the Widows and Orphans Acts that the horticultural worker is classed as an agricultural worker? In view of the fact that under the Conditions of Employment Act he is regarded as an industrial worker, will the Parliamentary Secretary not consider treating him as an industrial worker for the purposes of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Acts?
I am afraid that it would be scarcely feasible to isolate one class of the same section of labour. I think the Deputy has in mind that sections of nursery workers living in cities should be entitled to the higher rate of benefit.
Agreed.
So long as they are regarded as being engaged in agricultural work it is not easy to see how they can be treated as a class within the industrial group. I cannot see any possibility of having the Deputy's suggestion adopted.
But they are not so regarded for the purpose of the Conditions of Employment Act?
But they are for the purpose of the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Act and of the Agricultural Wages Act.
Quite, but I suggest there should be a change.