asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that the conditions of employment of certain categories of hotel employees such as housekeepers, cashiers, receptionists etc, are antiquated and unjust; if so, if he will have a special investigation made with a view to having fair and reasonable conditions granted to these employees; and, if not, why.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hotel Employee Conditions.
18.
If the Deputy would supply me with particulars of complaints relating to the conditions of these categories, I will have the matter considered.
There is a joint labour committee which lays down minimum statutory conditions for hotel workers outside Dublin, Dún Laoghaire and Cork but the committee does not deal with conditions of housekeepers and receptionists. Any question of extending the scope of the committee's functions would have to be dealt with under the procedures laid down in the Industrial Relations Act, 1946.
Has the Minister had any complaints about low wages paid to hotel workers in areas not covered by the Order?
No.
Is the Minister's Department not aware of low wages being paid in other parts of the country?
No. I have already stated in reply to the question that if the Deputy who was asking the question had information on any specific case I would look into it.
I find it remarkable that nobody in the Department knows about the low wages.