Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2024
70. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the date of the last four meetings of the Labour Employer Economic Forum subgroup on collective bargaining; the methods he is using to ensure workers' right to organise is developed in this State; and whether he intends to wait until the deadline of Article 4 of the EU directive before taking any action. [16994/24]
View answerThe Labour Employer Economic Forum's subgroup tasked with the implementation of the High Level Working Group's recommendations on Collective Bargaining met on 29 June 2023 and 16 November 2023. Updates on these issues were also provided at the LEEF plenary meetings chaired by the Taoiseach on 20 November 2023 and 26 February 2024.
Many elements of this report are already being progressed by the WRC and the Labour Court. Other recommendations, which would require significant legislative change, are being considered by the Office of the Attorney General. It was agreed with the social partners that the LEEF Subgroup will meet again as soon as full legal advice has been considered.
In addition to the LEEF plenary and subgroup discussions, a new technical working group has been established this year with the social partners to examine the collective bargaining aspects of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages.
Article 4 of the EU Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages, Promotion of Collective Bargaining on Wage Setting, aims to promote collective bargaining on wages in all Member States. The Directive requires Member States in which the collective bargaining coverage rate is less than 80 % to provide “for a framework of enabling conditions for collective bargaining” and to publish an action plan to promote collective bargaining. The 80% threshold is an indicator triggering the publication of an action plan and not a mandatory target to be reached. The action plan must be published by the end of 2025 and I can confirm that it is intended to publish the action plan ahead of that date.
This technical group met on 19 February 2024 and 25 March 2024. I understand that the meetings of the group have been constructive and that it will meet again in the coming weeks to look at the social partners’ proposals with regard to the EU Directive and to formulate Ireland’s action plan to create enabling frameworks for collective bargaining.
