Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 February 2006
122 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to reports of serious under payment and mistreatment of foreign workers employed as domestics in Irish homes, including reports that some have been paid as little as €2 per hour; the steps he intends to take to end such exploitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4054/06]
Amharc ar fhreagra129 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he has taken to protect the terms and working conditions of workers in the area of domestic service; if he is satisfied that there is adequate monitoring of this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4093/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 129 together.
In the area of pay and conditions, it is primarily the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 that apply to adult workers who are employed in domestic service. Employees, working in the provision of domestic service, as is the case for employees in most other areas of the economy, are not categorised in any unique fashion in current employment legislation.
I am aware of the publication of a case study document that focused on the circumstances of 20 women working in the provision of domestic services. In this connection I engaged in dialogue with ICTU and others and am, as a result, very conscious of their concerns for the workers providing these services. The possibility of establishing a joint labour committee under the auspices of the Labour Court has been mooted and officials of the Department have been examining the issue. I understand there is ongoing dialogue with the interested parties to determine the feasibility of that approach, including enforcement difficulties arising both from provisions in our Constitution and in the European Convention on Human Rights. I await the outcome of these deliberations.
The Labour Relations Commission commissioned the University of Limerick to carry out a review of the JLC system in 2005. Arising from this review and following bilateral consultations with the social partners and stakeholders, the Department has prepared a paper that will be used as the basis for implementation of the review in further consultation with the social partners and stakeholders, in the context of the forthcoming partnership talks. The issue of a JLC for domestic workers, and proposals for new JLCs for other sectors, will be considered in this context.
