Vol. 482 No. 6
72 Mr. Kirk asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the low level of pay in the hotel and catering sectors; and the plans, if any, she has to address this matter. [19054/97]
I am aware that concern has been expressed about pay levels in the hotel and catering sectors. I can inform the Deputy that there are now four Joint Labour Committee's (JLCs) for the hotel and catering sectors. The most recent JLC for workers employed in hotel establishments in the County Borough of Dublin and the Borough of Dún Laoghaire, was established on 1 May 1997 by the Labour Court, in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act, 1946 to 1990.
The function of a JLC is to draw up proposals for minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for the workers covered by the JLC. When proposals submitted by a JLC to the Labour Court are accepted by the Labour Court, through the making of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO), they become statutory minimum pay and conditions of employment.
To date, EROs have not been ratified by the Labour Court in respect of the Catering JLC (for the County Borough of Dublin and the Borough of Dún Laoghaire) or the Hotels JLC (for the County Borough of Dublin and the Borough of Dún Laoghaire).
The extension of statutory minimum pay and conditions of employment to catering and hotel workers covered by these JLCs, will benefit workers who earn less than the statutory minimum prescribed in any new EROs.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government contains, as a key priority, in promoting an inclusive society, the introduction of a national minimum hourly wage. To give effect to that commitment, I have established a National Minimum Wage Commission.
The commission's terms of reference require it, inter alia, to advise on the best way to implement the commitment having regard to the level and extent of low pay in the economy. The commission has been asked to report by the end of 1997.
