Tom Kitt
Ceist:18 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the measures, if any, he is taking to deal with the exploitation of part-time workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8057/95]
Vol. 452 No. 4
18 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the measures, if any, he is taking to deal with the exploitation of part-time workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8057/95]
Since the introduction of the Worker Protection (Regular Part-Time Employees) Act, 1991, regular part-time employees have enjoyed the same rights as full-time employees under worker protection legislation.
Prior to the introduction of the 1991 Act, part-time workers were generally excluded from the protection of labour legislation, with the exception of certain areas such as health and safety and equality. The 1991 Act extended to regular part-time employees the benefits of the Redundancy Payments Acts, 1967 to 1990, the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Acts, 1973 and 1984, the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts, 1977 and 1988, the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977, the Maternity Protection of Employees Act, 1981 and the Protection of Employees (Employers' Insolvency) Acts, 1984 and 1990.
The 1991 Act also extended to regular part-time employees, on a modified basis, the benefit of the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973. Regular part-time employees are entitled to annual leave at the rate of six hours per 100 hours worked and proportionally less where fewer hours are worked.