Sandra McLellan
Question:35. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to tackle the increased casualisation of the labour market. [42589/13]
View answerThursday, 10 October 2013
Questions (35)
Written answers
Labour market flexibility needs to be complemented by support to workers enabling them to make smooth transitions between different types of labour market status (e.g. activation measures for the unemployed, training for employment, work experience options, transitions towards self-employment, etc.). The quality of transitions will determine the quality of a worker's career and the smooth functioning of the labour market.
Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment rights legislation which has among its objectives the protection of employees and the quality of transitions between different contractual arrangements. Specific areas covered by employment protection legislation include:
- Protection of part-time work
- Protection of fixed-term work
- Protection of temporary work
- Protection of persons engaged by temporary work agencies.
- Working time;
- Payment of Wages;
- Holidays;
- National Minimum Wage;
- Unfair Dismissal;
- Redundancy Payments;
- Protection of Young Persons;
- Transfer of Undertakings.
In general, Irish legislation mirrors the broader EU social protection framework in this area.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) Live Register Data indicates that in the year to September 2013 the number of casual and part-time workers decreased by 2,795 (3.28%). There was an estimated 82,985 casual and part-time workers on the Live Register in September 2013. This compares with 85,090 casual and part-time workers on the Live Register one year earlier.
Opportunities for up-skilling and further career development are essential to advance the inclusive growth objective and can provide individuals who are in part-time work with poor career prospects with the necessary means to maintain their employability and make progress in their career options.