Vol. 407 No. 5
6 Mr. T. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Labour if he will make a statement on the proposals for worker participation in the private sector currently under discussion by the Employer Labour Conference; and if he will outline his views on the matter.
11 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Labour if he intends to implement the recommendation of the advisory committee on worker participation in relation to the private sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 11 together.
In line with a commitment under the Programme for National Recovery I have considered the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Worker Participation. The major recommendation of the committee related to the introduction of worker participation in the private sector and while there was a majority in favour of enabling legislation a minority favoured a voluntary approach. In the absence of consensus I do not feel that the legislative approach would be appropriate.
On the basis of discussions which I had with the ICTU and the FIE it was agreed that the question of worker participation in the private sector might best be progressed by way of discussions between both sides under the Employer-Labour Conference. These discussions are ongoing and the Programme for Economic and Social Progress includes a commitment to the publication of an FIE-ICTU joint declaration on employee involvement in the private sector shortly. I hope this initiative will encourage the development of employee involvement throughout the private sector.
Would the Minister not agree that the recent decision by the Minister for Agriculture and Food to privatise the Sugar Company has done more to discourage worker participation in the private sector than anything else in that he would not allow the continuation of worker-directors in the new company, Greencore? That decision must have been a headline to the private sector to turn their faces against any possible move towards participation by workers at the highest level.
Worker-directors will remain part of that company but I think, having been involved in the discussions, they believe that they will not be involved in the main action. I am very anxious to promote co-operation and partnership between the FIE and ICTU in the private sector so as to encourage worker participation. Even though these discussions are ongoing, the joint declaration will produce models and systems of worker participation which will work. Some of these models and systems are already in existence in the private sector but others are not. I do not think I have any need to tell Deputy Kavanagh that the private sector do not agree with full board participation. There are a number of other models in the public sector. I extended the number of agencies with full board participation and brought in 38 State institutions which have sub-board structures. That is the policy I have pursued.
Is Question No. 27 on the Greencore issue encompassed in this reply from the Minister?
I am afraid not.
Hopefully we will reach that question. Having regard to the very poor performance in recent years of worker participation in the private sector, may I ask the Minister if he considers it wise to rule out the legislative approach? Does all the evidence not point in the direction that unless legislative action is taken by the Government it is unlikely that, on a voluntary basis, there will be any significant stepping up of worker participation, which I believe most enlightened countries in Europe consider to be a valuable contribution to economic growth?
This would not be the best week to support the concept of worker-directors. However, leaving that short term issue aside, I agree with Deputy Rabbitte that there are a number of very good models on the European scene. Depending on what is contained in the joint declaration, we will probably make more progress if we continue with our present approach. Both the FIE and ICTU put a lot of work into this issue at senior level at the Basil Chubb Conference.
While I do not want to prejudice the joint declaration, I believe that if we introduce legislation in this area we will run the risk of having two board meetings for every board. I have spoken to my colleagues in the Social Affairs Council and they told me this has happened in other countries. I do not think that is the way to progress. If the joint declaration is substantial and workable we should try that for a while. I have been a great advocate of sub-board level participation. I know from experience that it is far better to have sub-board participation first, to make that work and then go on to full board participation. This is better than going the other way around as the other system is fraught with difficulties.
