Vol. 467 No. 4
267 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the serious situation in the hotel and catering industry where there is dissatisfaction among employees at the low rates of pay; when there will be a review of these rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13188/96]
Rates of pay and other conditions of employment of certain workers employed in catering establishments anywhere throughout the State except the County Borough of Dublin and the Borough of Dún Laoghaire are prescribed in an Employment Regulation Order, ERO, made by the Labour Court on the basis of proposals from the Catering Joint Labour Committee. A separate ERO for workers in hotels operates throughout the State except the County Boroughs of Dublin and Cork and the Borough of Dún Laoghaire. A review of the rates of pay under these orders is a matter for the relevant joint labour committee. I understand that the Labour Court has recently made a new ERO for workers covered by the Hotels Joint Labour Committee and is to consider proposals for a new ERO for workers covered by the Catering Joint Labour Committee.
A joint labour committee for catering establishments in the County Borough of Dublin and the Borough of Dún Laoghaire, which do not come within the scope of the existing ERO, has also been established. The JLC is still in discussions in relation to the rates of pay and other conditions of employment of the workers in respect of whom it operates.
