Employment Rights.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 February 2008

Thursday, 7 February 2008

Ceisteanna (55)

Eamon Gilmore

Ceist:

53 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the closure of a number of major hotels with the redundancy of a significant number of workers and their reopening with the employment of workers at lower rates of pay and poorer conditions; his views on this pattern in view of the need to preserve adequate wages and decent working conditions; if he will take action on this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4057/08]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Billy Kelleher)

The pay and conditions of employment of workers in the hotel industry are governed by Employment Regulation Orders. Labour Inspectors in the National Employment Regulation Authority (NERA) have powers to enter premises, inspect wage sheets and other records, interview the employees and workers concerned, recover arrears and, if necessary, take legal proceedings against an employer who is in breach of an Employment Regulation Order. If the Deputy has any information to the effect that workers in a particular hotel are not in receipt of their legal entitlements he should make this information available to NERA.

With regard to the Statutory Redundancy Payments Scheme, this is operated by my Department strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967-2007.