asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the worker participation unit of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Worker Participation Unit.
17.
I take it that the Deputy wishes to know about the work of the unit and I am replying on that basis. The unit's tasks include administration of the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act, 1977, the preparation of legislation for the extension of worker participation in State enterprises and provision of the secretariat for the Advisory Committee on Worker Participation. In addition, the unit services international organisations, primarily the EC, on matters relating to worker participation.
What proposals has the Minister to extend the operation of worker participation under the headings of worker-directors and the sub-board structures, and what progress have the unions and his Department made in relation to that?
I am not satisfied with the progress we have made in relation to the extension to the 1977 Act. We have reached some difficulties of a technical nature at the drafting stage which I understand are being resolved. This will provide, among other things, for the extension of the Act to cover a new range of bodies and State organisations and also give the Minister for Labour the power to extend the operation of the Act to all other State companies by agreement with the House. In addition it will require all State companies, existing ones who have worker-directors and those who will qualify to have worker-directors, to make provision for adequate sub-board structures within their organisation, and to provide on account in their annual report of the progress they have made in relation to worker participation.
Will this be an amendment to the 1977 Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act?
Yes. A Bill I have in mind, currently with the parliamentary draftsman, will provide for an amendment to the 1977 Act to extend the number of companies covered. That Act names seven companies. This Bill will give a general enabling provision to the Minister for Labour and mentions specifically a number of companies at this stage but with the power by agreement with the House to extend to all other semi-State companies not so named.
By regulation?
By regulation.
Can the Minister name the ones that will be included in the amendment to the Act?
You had better not debate the amendment.
I can, but I cannot find the schedule in front of me. I can give the information to the Deputy.
In relation to the provision of sub-board structures, is the Minister including that in the Act for existing companies and for all future companies?
Yes.
Will it be in the Act?
The requirement for sub-board structures will be common to all State companies who have worker-directors.
This is my final question on this. In the event of one of the listed companies now or in future being taken over, with State involvement in that take-over, what will be the position of the worker-directors? I think the Minister will know what I am talking about. Will he ensure that the worker-directors' rights under the 1977 Act will be taken into account in any talks in which the State will be involved?
I think I know what the Deputy is referring to and I appreciate his diplomacy in the way he has referred to it. I am aware of talks that are ongoing at the moment about possible linkages. He can rest assured that, as far as the Department of Labour and I are concerned, the ground gained in relation to worker-directors and worker participation will be held and any decision that might arise — no decision so far has been taken — will take into account fully the position of worker-directors.
I believe that in this case and in future cases the state and the Department of Labour have an opportunity to show that the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act has teeth. I am glad of the Minister's assurance. It is vital that any agreement writes clearly into it that the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act, 1977, provisions continue in any amalgamation.