asked the Minister for Labour whether he has held any discussion with employers' organisations on the necessity of adhering to an adequate notice period by their member employers when a firm intends to let staff go.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Notice for Dismissed Workers.
6.
Under the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967, an employer who is dismissing, on account of redundancy, a worker with four years service or more must give him at least two weeks notice in writing. When that Act was before the House, I undertook to consider legislation to provide for reasonable minimum periods of notice generally, where employment is terminated. I have since initiated discussions on the matter with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Federated Union of Employers and these discussions are proceeding.
Are we to assume that persons who have lost their employment on the grounds of redundancy between the time of the introduction of the Bill and 1st January, the date on which it came into operation, have no prospect of getting compensation from any source?
Not under the Act. I hope there will be a prospect of compensation from the employers privately for redundancy but under the Act, 1st January is the operative date and there is no legal entitlement to redundancy payments before January 1st.
Is there any understanding between the Federated Union, the Congress and the Minister that cases of that character would be favourably considered by members of the Federated Union of Employers for compensation analogous to that which they would have got, had their employment continued until after the date?
There is no understanding but individual firms have treated their workers on the basis of the Bill before it became an Act.
It would be appropriate to draw the attention of employers to individual cases, if such should arise?
Yes, it would be appropriate for employers to attempt to compensate people who are not covered.
Or to draw the Minister's attention to individual cases with a view to suggesting to the employers that this was a case that might be considered magnanimously in the light of the subsequent legislation?
It could only be suggested.
It could have no legal effect but it might help.