Vol. 402 No. 8
13 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Labour if, arising from his recent interview (details supplied), he will outline when the promised legislation on the rights of part-time workers will be brought before Dáil Éireann; if he will outline its main provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I would like to re-assure the House that I fully share the Deputy's concern that part-time workers should be protected under labour law. This is a view which I have held for some time but as there were conflicting opinions between the social partners as to how this matter should be addressed I engaged in a lengthy process of consultation so as to bring the divergent views of the Federation of Irish Employers and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions closer on this matter.
In addition to this during the earlier part of this year it became clear that developments at Community level will have an impact on the status of part-time workers under labour and social welfare law. These developments are taking the form of a series of proposed directives published during the summer and autumn in fulfilment of a work programme which I agreed with the European Commission during the Irish Presidency. However, as these proposed directives are still at a relatively early stage and are the subject of ongoing discussions within the social questions group of the Council, I have decided that it is necessary to proceed independently with our own proposals while continuing to be mindful of the emerging position at Community level.
In the context of this overall position, I got approval some months ago to prepare a Bill to protect regular part-time workers. The Bill, which is currently being drafted as a matter of priority, will extend the scope of current labour legislation regarding minimum notice, holidays, maternity leave, redress for unfair dismissal, workers' participation and redundancy and insolvency protection to most of the regular part-time employees who are not covered at present.
As I am hopeful that I will be in a position to introduce the Bill to this House before the end of the present session I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot elaborate further on its contents at this time.
I welcome the Minister's commitment to introduce the Bill in this session. It is something my party have been concerned with for some time. Having regard to the strictures which the Minister places on me in terms of supplementaries may I ask him, having regard to the Bill which The Workers' Party introduced in the House, will we be grossly dissatisfied with the Minister's labours when the Bill is introduced?
In his reply to Deputy Rabbitte the Minister mentioned on two occasions regular part-time workers. Do I take it from his response that he does not intend to incorporate temporary part-time workers, the people who are most exploited under the present system? Will he afford any comfort to them?
I can answer both questions by saying that I hope the Bill will be seen by people as progressive legislation and will go much further than what is happening in the Community as of now. That is something that could change. There have to be thresholds and guidelines or otherwise the legislation would become unrealistic. The regular part-time workers and relative part-time workers will be protected by the Bill. I do not think we can protect all kinds of part-time workers because that would include students who do a few hours work on a Saturday or in the evenings. They will not be included in the terms of the proposed Bill.
Will the Minister agree that it will be possible to give pro rata conditions, based on the number of hours worked, to people who are employed in a temporary part-time capacity? If some measure is not taken will he not agree that it will lead to further abuse and be a disincentive to employers inclined to employ people on a full-time basis thereby reducing the number of people on the unemployment register?
I am very cautious about this issue and I do not wish to do anything which would affect the growth of part-time workers in the labour market where it is regulated. I seek to provide the appropriate protections in a range of labour legislation which should be provided for in labour legislation for people who work less than the normal number of hours per week. They have not got that protection at present and I will provide for it in the new Bill. I do not believe anyone will be left out once this Bill goes through. I will deal with small groups of people and those who are not in permanent or regular part-time work.
