Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2015
167. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he has instructed his officials and Enterprise Ireland to provide all necessary support to the workers of Cadbury to save all the jobs now threatened by a proposal to move the jobs to Poland. [19241/15]
View answer168. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he and agencies under his aegis have expressed grave concerns to 3G Capital-Berkshire Hathaway, following its takeover of Heinz-Kraft-Mondelez, on proposals to reduce the Mondelez Cadbury workforce. [19242/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together.
Immediately after the announcement by the company concerned, I established an inter-agency group to coordinate the response to the proposed job losses.
The group, chaired by Enterprise Ireland, will seek to secure alternative employment for the area affected and ensure that departing workers have access to supports they need from State agencies for retraining, access to social welfare supports, access to advice on employment rights and access to advice and support for those workers who intend to start their own businesses. The group includes Local Enterprise Offices, IDA Ireland, Solas, Education and Training Boards, Department of Social Protection, MABS and the Citizens Information Bureau.
The inter-agency group made it clear that it stood ready to meet unions and staff representatives at any stage. I understand that Enterprise Ireland is meeting with employee representatives this week to discuss in general terms the approach of the agency to supporting restructuring, job protection and job creation.
Enterprise Ireland has had meetings with the company’s management on a weekly basis since the announcement of the proposed job losses, and has been in contact with the company on a continuous basis regarding the assistance it could provide for restructuring to minimise job losses. I have also had discussions with Mondelez at senior executive level and the company has committed clearly to me that it will invest in its operation here with the aim of achieving best in class production process.
The Company and its workers and the union who represent them are engaged in discussions in the company's restructuring proposals.
The Labour Relations Commission is available, if required, to assist the parties concerned. I know that in similar situations in the past, the parties have facilitated access to commercially sensitive information. It is a matter for the parties in each dispute to decide however.
Ireland’s body of employment rights legislation protects all persons legally employed in Ireland on an employer-employee basis. Persons working under a contract of employment, on a full-time or part-time basis, have the same protection under law.
The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is mandated to secure compliance with employment rights legislation. NERA’s Workplace Relations Customer Service Section provides information in relation to employment, equality and industrial relations rights and obligations and how to obtain redress where appropriate.
Workplace Relations Customer Services staff are available to meet the Cadbury workforce to provide information and answer any questions they may have with regard to their present situation.
