Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
505. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the joint labour committee Sunday rates for security workers; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many security staff are of the view that the Sunday rate should be increased to double pay in line with many other workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54530/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraJoint Labour Committees (JLCs) are provided for under the Industrial Relations Act 1946 and were reformed by the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act, 2012. A JLC is comprised of equal numbers of representatives of employers and workers in a sector.
The JLC for the Security Industry was established by SI. 377 of 1998, as amended by SI. 30 of 2014, which remains in force.
JLCs meet under an independent Chairperson to discuss proposals for terms and conditions to apply to specified grades or categories of workers in the relevant sector. If agreement is reached, the JLC publishes details and invites submissions from interested parties.
If, after consideration of any submissions received, the Committee adopts the proposals it will submit them to the Labour Court for consideration. The Labour Court will in turn consider the matter, and if appropriate, will then make a recommendation on the adoption of the proposals. My role as Minister, provided that I am satisfied that the Labour Court has followed due process, is to approve an Order giving effect to the recommendation. The current Employment Regulation Order for the Security Industry came into effect on 1st June 2017 (S.I. No. 231 of 2017).
The constitution and proceedings of JLCs is set out in the Fifth Schedule to the Industrial Relations Act, 1990. As Minister, I have no function in the determination of the terms of Employment Regulation Orders which under legislation is a matter solely for the relevant JLC and the Labour Court.
