Vol. 432 No. 6
35 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if it is intended to introduce legislation to provide for a basic minimum wage, so as to improve the position of those on very low rates of pay, many of whom are women; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
111 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on the recommendation of the Second Commission on the Status of Women that a statutory national minimum wage should begin to be phased in by 1995, following a negotiation between the Government and the social partners.
113 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if it is Government policy to introduce a minimum wage rate; if we are bound under the EC Social Charter to introduce such a minimum rate; the deadline for achieving this; and if he will make reference to or supply any position papers, statements, or policy documents on the matter.
118 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if it is Government policy to introduce a minimum wage rate; if we are bound under the EC Social Charter to introduce such a minimum rate; if so, the deadline for achieving this; and if he will refer Deputy Mr. Noel Ahern to or supply him with any position papers, statements or policy documents on the issue.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 111, 113 and 118 together.
The European Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights does not cover the question of a minimum wage. It refers to an equitable wage sufficient to enable workers to have a decent standard of living. The Action Programme associated with the Charter makes clear that wage-setting is a matter for member states and the two sides of industry, and that it is not the task of the EC to fix a decent reference wage. In this context, the Commission proposes to deliver an Opinion on an equitable wage and this is expected to be finalised in the near future.
Under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress it was agreed that, during the currency of the Agreement, the Employer-Labour Conference (ELC) would consider all the issues involved (including the operation of the Joint Labour Committee System) In regard to a statutory minimum wage and prepare a report for the constituent bodies of the Conference. The recommendations and views expressed by the Second Commission on the Status of Women will no doubt be taken into account by the ELC. I have no proposals at this stage to introduce legislation and I await the outcome of the ELC deliberations.
I would refer Deputy Ahern to the recent ESRI Report by Brian Nolan entitled "Low Pay in Ireland". A copy of a research project entitled "The Economic Effects of Minimum Wage Laws: A Survey of the Evidence" by Geary and McCarthy can be made available by my Department.
