asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the fact that through trade union agreement or by practice the majority of employees and workers now receive a fortnight's annual leave, he will introduce proposals for amending legislation to the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1939, so as to provide that persons duly qualified shall have 14 days' statutory annual leave instead of the seven days as provided for at present in that Act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Workers' Holidays.
In my view, improvements in the conditions of employment of workers, over and above those prescribed by legislation, can be more satisfactorily arranged by the negotiation of voluntary agreements between representative organisations of employers and employees, and I would be reluctant to promote new legislation for this purpose, as suggested by the Deputy, until I was convinced that there are practical reasons why the method of negotiation is inadequate.