Derek McDowell
Ceist:77 Mr. McDowell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment her views on the way in which workers' rights can be extended and enhanced in the context of the European Social Chapter. [13961/97]
Written Answers. - European Social Chapter.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the Agreement on Social Policy which is attached to the Protocol on Social Policy annexed to the Maastricht Treaty on European Union.
The agreement provides for the adoption of directives on a range of issues in the field of social policy, including matters relating to workers' rights. However, it is the European Commission which has the right of initiative, in consultation with the social partners, management and labour, at European level, as regards the making of legislative proposals in the areas covered by the agreement. I will carefully examine any such proposals which may be brought forward but it is not for me to pre-empt the Commission's thinking or the views of the social partners in this area.
The Deputy will be aware that two directives have already been adopted under the agreement, namely, the directive on the establishment of European works councils, which was implemented in Ireland last year, and the directive on parental leave and leave for family reasons which is due for implementation by mid-1998.
A common position was adopted by the Council of Ministers for Labour and Social Affairs at their meeting on 27 June, 1997 on a draft directive on the burden of proof in cases of discrimination based on sex, the legal base of which is Article 2 (2) of the agreement. I can also inform the Deputy that the social partners at EU level recently signed a framework agreement on part-time work following negotiations on the issue under the terms of the Agreement on Social Policy. It is expected that the Commission will submit a proposal on the subject to the Council for a decision in the near future.
The framework agreement sets out general principles and minimum requirements relating to part-time work with the aim of preventing discrimination against part-time workers and facilitating the development of part-time work on a voluntary basis, thereby contributing to flexibility in the organisation of working time. The Commission also recently launched consultations with the social partners on the issues of information and consultation of employees at national level, that is, for companies not covered by the Directive on European Works Councils.
I should add that the United Kingdom, which had opted out of the Agreement on Social Policy at the time of the adoption of the Maastricht Treaty, has now decided to accede to the social provisions contained therein and has indicated its willingness to accept the directives which have already been adopted under the agreement.