Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Mar 1997

Vol. 476 No. 1

Written Answers. - Wages of Hotel and Catering Staff.

David Andrews

Question:

47 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will support the call for detailed survey of the rates of pay and conditions of employment within the hotel and catering sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5973/97]

Tony Killeen

Question:

48 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on recent reports of widespread low pay, and poor employment conditions in the tourism industry; and the plans, if any, he has to address the problem in the long term. [6038/97]

Tony Killeen

Question:

49 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to propose to his Government colleagues a statutory basic minimum wage for employees in the tourism industry. [6042/97]

Batt O'Keeffe

Question:

94 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on the low wage being paid to people in the catering area and the consequent difficulties in recruiting staff in this area; and the proposals, if any, he has in this regard. [5339/97]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 48, 49 and 94 together.

As in any sector of employment, wage levels in the areas referred to by the Deputies are a matter for negotiation and agreement between employees and employers, and/or their representatives. Where disputes arise the services of the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court are available to the parties.

As I stated earlier in my response to a priority question, the Industrial Relations Acts, 1946-1990, provides that trade unions, or other organisations claiming to represent a category of workers may make application to the Labour Court for the establishment of a joint labour committee, known as a JLC.

The function of a JLC is to draw up proposals for fixing minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for the workers involved. When proposals submitted by a joint Labour Committee are confirmed by the Labour Court, through the making of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO), they become statutory minimum pay and conditions of employment for the workers concerned.

There are already three JLCs in operation which impact on tourism-related employment, two cover the catering area and the third covers hotels. In the case of the hotels, JLC, Cork city, Dublin city and Dun Laoghaire are not included. I am informed that the SIPTU trade union has applied to the Labour Court for the establishment of a JLC for hotels in the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire areas. The Labour Court is to hold an inquiry on 3 April, 1997 into the application by SIPTU.

To date an ERO has not been ratified by the Labour Court in respect of the catering JLC for the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire areas.

EROs are enforced by the labour inspectorate of my Department. Routine inspections are undertaken to ensure that employers are complying with the terms of the EROs. In addition, inspectors pursue reported breaches of these EROs.

I am aware that concern has been publicly expressed about pay levels and conditions of work in the tourism sector, including hotels and catering. However, I am satisfied that, in addition to collective bargaining, the JLC system is the appropriate machinery to address the issue of low pay, including difficulties about apparent low pay in the hotel and catering sectors. The JLC system includes examination of prevailing pay rates.

In the final analysis a decision to set up a JLC, or to extend the remit of a committee, rests with the Labour Court.

I would add that ministerial responsibility for the development of the tourism industry and the maximisation of the industry's employment potential primarily rests with my colleague, the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Deputy Kenny.