Support the Irish Economy in Challenging Times

Chambers Ireland has today (30/04/08) said that changes being called for by Irish trade unions regarding agency workers is unnecessary and unfounded. Furthermore these additional bureaucratic requirements will almost certainly result in job losses, reduced availability for those seeking temporary employment, and ultimately Irish competitiveness.

Speaking in advance of his address to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the issue of agency workers, Seán Murphy, Director of Policy, Chambers Ireland stated, “Much of what the Unions in Ireland have said about agency workers recently has been misleading and incorrect. Contrary to their assertions, Agency workers have the same employment rights as their ‘permanent’ counterparts. For example, legislation such as the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides for equality of treatment for both full time and ‘agency’ workers. Similarly all workers come under the remit of Irish legislation as it pertains to equality, unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy payments. Any claims to the contrary are simply not true.”

“The Unions position on this is contradictory. In Aer Lingus, the introduction of a different grade of worker doing the same work was done with union agreement. Current demands will give an agency worker greater protection, as they would have the right to get the same pay as an existing comparable permanent worker. There would be nothing to stop the same employer taking on a person directly at a lower rate of pay,” Murphy said.

“Agency workers make a substantial contribution to the Irish economy and provide employment opportunities to those are unable to work permanent jobs – such as college students during the summer months.  Rising childcare costs preclude many mothers from engaging in the labour market full-time. The availability of flexible employment arrangements facilitated by short term contracts is a crucial means for groups such as these looking to return to the workforce either permanently or for short-term periods. To undermine this benign situation would be foolish in the extreme,” Murphy concluded.