asked the Minister for Labour whether it is Government policy to extend the protection of labour legislation to part time workers.
Written Answers. - Labour Legislation.
174.
No distinction is drawn between full and part time workers in the conditions of Employment Acts, 1936 to 1944, the Anti-Discrimination Pay Act, 1974, the Employment Equality Act, 1977, the Payment of Wages Act, 1979 and in the legislation pertaining to occupational health and safety.
Other legislation applies to workers who work at least a defined threshold of hours. The level of the threshold takes into account the interests of workers, the cost and other implications for employers and the consequential effects on employment. Through provisions of the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Act 1984, I reduced the thresholds for the purposes of the Redundancy Payments Acts, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act and the Unfair Dismissals Act and brought them into line so as to provide protection for persons who work a minimum of 18 hours a week for the same employer. The threshold in the Maternity (Protection of Employees) Act is also 18 hours a week.
The position of part time workers will continue to be kept under review to see what further improvements are feasible without adverse effects on the level of employment.