asked the Minister for Labour if the Government intend to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Worker Participation in relation to the private sector; if he has recently met a delegation from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to discuss this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Advisory Committee on Worker Participation.
15.
The Advisory Committee on Worker Participation, which reported in June 1986, made several proposals for the development of worker participation in both the public and private sectors. Progress has been made on some of the proposals. In particular, a booklet, Guidelines for Employee Participation, has already been published and widely distributed to employer and worker organisations in accordance with the committee's recommendations. A directory of working examples of successful participative arrangements is also being prepared and will be available shortly.
A number of proposals, and in particular that relating to the introduction of enabling legislation for the private sector, did not have the support of the full committee and in the absence of agreement between the social partners I would be reluctant to take any action on these recommendations.
I had discussions in March with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions on worker participation issues generally. In the course of the discussions Congress outlined their views on the recommendations of the advisory committee. A meeting with the Federated Union of Employers is being arranged.
Would the Minister agree that one of the most important and profound recommendations of the report, and that raised with him by Congress at the March meeting, related to economic democracy within companies, in particular large undertakings? Would he agree, in view of recent developments and troubles that large concerns in this county faced, that workers must now be given the opportunity to become involved in the economic affairs of companies to which they commit themselves?
At numerous meetings with employer bodies I appealed to them to involve themselves in worker participation at board level if they deemed it necessary and certainly at sub-board level. With the help of all parties in this House, we passed a very important Bill dealing with sub-board level structures in the public sector. That practice should also be followed in the private sector because it is very important that there be co-operation as regards work agreements and understanding of the economic realities, difficulties, changes and work practices that are necessary. Any right-thinking company should actively involve themselves in worker participation mechanisms. From my own experience over the past two and a half years the difficulty arises invariably where there is a lack of trust or the lack of a forum where employers and employees can discuss issues.
I am taking this opportunity to appeal to employers to follow the example in the public sector and use the Worker Participation Act as a basis for their own mechanisms in the private sector.
I put it to the Minister that in this area cajolery will not be enough and that he must commit himself to some legislative programme to implement a blueprint for worker participation in the private sector. What the Minister has said is laudable but they are only pious hopes. Unless there is a legislative programme private industry generally will not allow workers to participate.
That is not true. We have a case study prepared to cajole and convince some employers about the great successes that some companies have had in this area. The vast majority of big companies, including multinationals, do not have any difficulties. The difficulties arise in companies where management lack experience and formal training. I do not agree that every plan has to be implemented by legislation or that the only way we can get the private sector to comply is by writing it into legislation. From the advisory committee's report and from the case study of the proposals, I am sure we can convince a great many industries to pursue this idea. This is a good idea but it does not require legislation to implement it.
The Minister gives an impression of total lack of enthusiasm and if the Minister is unenthusiastic, how can he make the private sector enthusiastic about this? Is the Minister not convinced of the appropriateness of worker participation in order to generate economic progress? Would he not accept that worker participation was a key factor in the massive recovery of the Federal Republic of Germany after the war?
I piloted the Worker Participation Bill through the House and it now operates in the public sector. We have done the case studies for the private sector and we have launched courses and seminars throughout the country to promote the idea of worker participation. I have spoken at most union and employer conferences in this country in the last two years about worker participation. There is no lack of enthusiasm——
Talk is not action.
I lack the enthusiasm to promote this by way of legislation. You do not need to bring in legislation to force the private sector to have worker participation.
I want to get on to another question.
Does the Minister accept the point made by Deputy McCartan that private industry will not embrace this unless there is some legislative framework or incentive for them?
We are having repetition now.
That is unfair to those who have taken the idea on board. I know there is still an element that do not embrace worker participation but a great many companies are very actively involved in worker participation.
What is the Minister's policy with regard to the recommendations for economic democracy — the suggestion of worker involvement or access to economic information relating to a company? What has the Minister done to promote that aspect of the joint working committee's recommendations?
That was one of the issues discussed with the Congress of Trade Unions. They requested me to make arrangements to have joint discussions between themselves and the Federated Union of Employers to promote that concept. I have agreed to do that.
Is it a principle you welcome?
Order. I am calling Question No. 16.
I have agreed to do that.