Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 May 1989

Vol. 389 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Working Time.

18.

asked the Minister for Labour the latest position regarding his ongoing discussions with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions regarding a possible reduction in the working week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am not too clear as to which discussions the Deputy is referring.

If what he has in mind is the commitment in the Programme for National Recovery the reduction has been agreed and negotiations are proceeding in the way and at the level one would have expected.

If on the other hand, the Deputy is referring to discussion on the statutory provisions which cover, among other matters, the regulation of working time, these are being reviewed in consultation with the FUE and the ICTU. My intention is to repeal this legislation which dates from the thirties and replace it with a statute reflecting the working of the present day. I might add that a reduction in the working week is not, of course, contemplated in this context.

If there is confusion arising from the question, may I advise the Minister that on the last occasion he answered a question on the reduction of the working week, on 8 February this year, he advised the House that he would have ongoing discussions to promote negotiations at local level between employers and employees. Deputy Mac Giolla was inquiring about these discussions. Since agreement has been reached at national level on the principle of reducing the working week could the Minister advice the House how many, if any, companies have concluded agreement to reduce the working week by one hour?

Discussions are ongoing in a number of companies on the matter and I have seen several agreements. The FUE and the ICTU, as you know, agreed on the framework and that framework is being discussed between the trade unions and management at local level. Discussions are going particularly well within the framework.

I do not mean to take issue with the Minister but may I interpret from what he is saying that there is not an agreement in place as of yet — I appreciate that it is a short time since agreement was achieved. However, I want to clarify the matter, the Minister may think that things are going well but I want to know whether an agreement has been concluded within any company. Second, may I ask how many meetings or discussions he has had to pursue this idea? I am concerned that the earlier remarks on the cost of holidays and the cost of time off seems to be the prevailing concern of Governments——

The Deputy is expanding the scope of his question.

It relates to something I said earlier. However, I wonder if any progress has been made?

Let me explain to the Deputy, because I think we are talking at cross purposes, that the framework agreement is what was in the Programme for National Recovery which had to be agreed between the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Federated Union of Employers. The discussions on that commenced in October and were completed in January.

That is right.

At the conclusion of discussions propasals were laid out as to how agreements were to be reached at local level. Discussions have been undertaken at local level since February and from my information no difficulties have been highlighted. If there are difficulties there can be appeal to the Labour Court but at this stage I do not believe that there are appeals to the Labour Court. However, a great number of firms and groups have already reached agreement and I know that many of the big employers are still at the discussion stage.

Have there been final agreements?

There have been final agreements, but they are reached at individual enterprise level. Each enterprise is doing its own negotiations. I do not have a cumulative figure.

Top
Share