asked the Minister for Labour in view of the recent references to the need to find agreement on the extension of working participation in public and private industry, if the Government have any specific policy input in support of worker participation in the event of an agreement being reached.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Worker Participation in Industry.
21.
I assume the question refers to a speech by the Taoiseach on 21 January 1979. On that occasion he indicated that one element in a suggested five-year national effort to achieve full employment would be that the manner in which workers would become more involved in the affairs of their firms, as well as the respective roles of public and private involvement in the economy, would need to be the subject of greater understanding and agreement.
As part of their published policy, the Government are committed to involving employees in company affairs through the promotion of meaningful worker participation in management decisions affecting their working lives. Towards that end, I have been actively engaged in implementing the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act, 1977. To date, elections have been concluded in three of the seven State bodies concerned and elections are in progress in two others; elections in the remaining two companies will be held when consultations have been completed.
It is also my intention to encourage the greater involvement of workers in decision-making below board level and towards that end I propose to have a discussion document published early this year, setting out alternative approaches and possible policy options at all levels of decision-making in the enterprise. I am also considering various initiatives in the area of work organisation.
Surely it does not accord with the Minister's ambition to rest on the laurels of a previous administration in referring to the Worker Participation Act? It is almost two years since the Minister took office and he was very vocal in opposition on the advantages of worker participation. Could he say if the document which he said will be published later this year is the result of discussions with the union and employers and if it will indicate constructive avenues of worker participation in private industry?
In reply to the first part of the Deputy's question I want to tell him that he just beat the deadline of the last election to have his 1977 Act in operation and left it for his successor to proceed with its implementation and the various regulations which existed under it. With regard to the second part of his question the discussion document which I said I hoped would be available this year will be a comprehensive document covering the private sector and would be for discussion between all interested parties, hopefully involving them in consultations with a view to how various forms and aspects of worker participation, work councils and work organisations can be considered for the future.
Private Notice Questions. I will call Deputies in the order in which the questions came in.
May I ask the Taoiseach through the Chair whether he thinks it appropriate that the Minister with overall responsibility for this matter is not in the House to answer questions on this serious national question?
The Minister is in Brussels on other urgent business.