Vol. 458 No. 7
66 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the plight of young apprentice hairdressers, particularly female apprentices, whose earnings are so low, often on a par with social welfare rates, that there is no incentive for them to work; the plans, if any, he has to bring in a minimum income for such apprentices to at least ensure a rate of pay in excess of the comparable rate for social welfare. [17582/95]
At present there are two Employment Regulation Orders (EROs), made by the Labour Court on the basis of proposals from Joint Labour Committees, which set out statutory minimum rates of pay and regulate statutory conditions of employment of workers employed in hairdressing establishments in Dublin City and County, the Borough of Dún Laoghaire and the Urban District of Bray, and the Cork County Borough. The EROs set out the minimum rates of pay for both qualified staff and apprentices irrespective of their sex.
Pay and other conditions of employment of workers employed in hairdressing establishments located outside these areas are a matter for negotiation between employers and workers or trade unions acting on their behalf. However, it is open to any trade union or organisation claiming to be representative of any class, type or group of workers to apply to the Labour Court for the establishment of a new Joint Labour Committee.
Enforcement of EROs is carried out by the Labour Inspectorate Section of my Department. Inspectors carry out inspections on a routine and complaint basis. Where inspections show that the statutory minimum rate of pay has not been observed, arrears of wages are collected by the Labour Inspectorate for the employee concerned. In cases where the employer fails to pay the arrears due, legal proceedings are instituted for recovery of these arrears.
