asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will consider introducing a Catering Workers Wages and Conditions Bill prescribing minimum rates of pay and working conditions for catering workers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pay and Conditions of Catering Workers.
25.
The statutory entitlements in respect of annual holidays and public holidays of all catering workers are governed by the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1961.
The Shops (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1938, regulates the hours of work and other conditions of all catering workers in the County Borough of Dublin and of catering workers, other than hotel workers, in catering establishments throughout the country as a whole. By Act of the Oireachtas hotel workers in the country outside Dublin were excluded from the provisions of this Act.
I am of opinion that the matter of wages, which is not covered by the Acts, is best dealt with by negotiations between workers and employers with recourse, if necessary, to the machinery provided for this purpose under the Industrial Relations Act, 1946.
While my present feeling is that existing legislation provides the best protection feasible I am always prepared to consider any reasoned case which may be made to me for its improvement.
The Minister has indicated that he is aware that the Shops (Conditions of Employment) Act operates only in the county borough of Dublin. That being so, does he not believe, with regard to conditions affecting hotel workers outside the city of Dublin, that there is need to extend that legislation and give them protection in relation to their working conditions?
As I have said, at the moment I do not think it is necessary. As I also said, the Shops (Conditions of Employment) Act was deliberately confined to Dublin by Act of the Oireachtas. Again, as I also said, if there is a reasonable case made to me, I will naturally consider it.
Might I ask the Minister to arrange to make a survey outside Dublin and to take into consideration the suggestions made by vocational educational committees and he will get ample information?
I do not think it is for me to undertake such a survey.