asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware that the law relating to the conditions of employment in wholesale and retail shops is antiquated and for the most part obsolete; whether there are any legal restrictions on the number of hours during which adult shop workers may be employed, and whether in fact many such persons are working continually for 70 and more hours per week; and whether in these circumstances it is his intention to introduce proposals for legislation at an early date for the purpose of regulating the hours of work of shop assistants, to provide for a weekly half-holiday for all shop-workers, and to establish machinery, in consultation with the trade unions concerned, for the regulation of minimum wages for commercial employees generally.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shop Assistants' Hours.
Representations have been made to me that the law relating to the conditions of employment in wholesale and retail shops is antiquated and in part obsolete. There are no legal restrictions on the number of hours during which adult shop workers may be employed save in the case of one trade, but my attention has not been drawn to any case in which persons are working continuously for 70 and more hours per week.
As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question addressed to me on the 28th February last, in which I indicated that consideration is being given to the introduction of proposals for legislation to control and regulate the hours and conditions of employment of shop assistants.