Nora Owen
Ceist:78 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the Government's proposals to encourage firms to consider options other than redundancies at times of difficulty.
Written Answers. - Employment Protection.
Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:87 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the Government's proposals to encourage firms to consider options other than redundancies at times of difficulty.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 87 which are identical.
The Programme for Competitiveness and Work contains, within section I, details of initiatives aimed at the maintenance of jobs. I will not list here everything contained in the chapter on employment protection, but I would draw attention to some particular measures that address the issue from a joint or partnership approach.
First, it is proposed to amend, in 1994, the provisions of the Protection of Employment Act, 1977, arising from an EU Council Directive. The main purpose of the amending legislation, as set out in this directive, is to strengthen the Act's provisions concerning consultation with employee interests about collective redundancy proposals.
Second, a review will be undertaken, in consultation with the social partners, of the strategies in relation to job retention and specifically of the operation of the Competitiveness and Employment Protection Unit. The review will address: (a) strategies that can cushion short term economic downturn and structural problems, (b) factors inhibiting early warning of impending closures or redundancies and (c) staff levels and expertise of the unit.