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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Job Sharing.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

160 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has made examinations into Ireland's laws and regulations to ensure that they do not prohibit the development of job sharing arrangements provided that adequate security continues to be provided to the workers concerned; the plans, if any, she has to bring in legislation in relation to job sharing in the private sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17778/99]

While it is generally accepted that worksharing offers a number of advantages for society and the economy through job creation, greater workplace flexibility and more equitable distribution of work, I have no immediate plans to introduce legislation on this specific issue.

I am not aware that our existing laws and regulations operate so as to prohibit the development of job sharing in the private sector which is, of course, first and foremost a matter for that sector.

On the wider issue of atypical work, the EU Council has adopted a directive on part-time work, the purpose of which is to prevent part-time workers from being treated less favourably than full-time workers, to provide for the removal of discrimination against part-time workers and to improve the quality of part-time work. This directive must be implemented in all member states by January 2000.

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