Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016
54. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to implement in full the recommendations of the University of Limerick study on the prevalence of zero-hour contracts among Irish employers and their impact on employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22544/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to bringing forward an appropriate policy response to the University of Limerick (UL) study on Zero Hour Contracts and Low Hour Contracts report for consideration by Government later this year.
The study found that zero hour contracts as defined within current Irish employment rights legislation are not extensively used in Ireland. It found low working hours can arise in different forms in employment contracts. The UL report made a range of recommendations relating to contracts, hours of work and notice, minimum hours, how contracted hours should be determined, collective agreements, data gathering and wider contextual issues.
The policy response will be informed by the UL study itself and also the extensive material and practical examples provided by respondents to the public consultation conducted by my Department. In this respect some 48 submissions were received which contained a broad range of views for and against the findings and recommendations made by UL.
The policy response will address the concerns expressed in the UL study and in the public consultation about the issue of workers on low hour contracts who consistently work more hours each week but whose contracts do not reflect the reality of their hours. The proposals will also seek to ensure that workers are better informed about the nature of their employment arrangements and their core terms and conditions at an early stage in their employment. Furthermore the proposals will include provisions aimed particularly at low paid, more vulnerable workers. In developing a policy response, my overriding concern is to find balanced and workable solutions to the several issues raised in the UL report.
