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Reform of Joint Labour Committees
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today (Tuesday) published the Report of the Labour Court’s Review of the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) system. He said that he accepted the recommendations contained in the Report and set out the legal steps necessary for their implementation. The Report recommends that the overall number of JLCs be reduced and that the scope of others be amended to take into account the changing circumstances of the sectors within which those JLCs operate.
Minister Bruton said:
“At the conclusion of this process there will be eight JLCs, and this will drop to seven when the necessary legislation is passed – leaving slightly over half the number that operated at the beginning of the reform process which I pursued on coming to Office. This latest development sits squarely within the context of the change required to improve Ireland's competitiveness by enhancing wage flexibility while also ensuring protection for vulnerable workers”.
“In publishing the Report and my response, I have been particularly mindful of issues arising as a result of a recent Supreme Court ruling in relation to Registered Employment Agreements (the McGowan case)”.
Specifically, the Minister indicated his intention to abolish the Dublin Hotels, and the Law Clerks’ JLCs, to narrow the scope of the Agricultural, Hairdressing, Retail Grocery, Hotels (outside Dublin), Contract Cleaning and Security JLCs, while amending the administration of the two Catering JLCs pending their amalgamation following amended legislation. In the latter context, the Minister also stated his intention to look at applying the Hairdressing JLC country-wide once the necessary legislation is passed.
Minister Bruton concluded:
“This report is detailed, comprehensive and complex and required careful examination. It represents the most comprehensive review of the Committees themselves since they were first established over 60 years ago. I would like to thank the Court for its work in this regard”.
The Report has been published on the Department’s website together with details of the measures the Minister is taking to give effect to the recommendations. See links below:
www.djei.ie/publications/employment/2013/Review_Joint_Labour_Committees_2013.pdf
www.djei.ie/publications/employment/2013/JLC_Next_Steps.pdf
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