Ibec has said that the government's decision to retain the Joint Labour Committee wage setting system, confirmed yesterday by Minister Richard Bruton, is a 'major mistake'.
“The JLC system should have been consigned to history," said Ibec Head of Industrial Relations and Human Resources Maeve McElwee. "It was established in 1909, at a time when employment protection laws did not exist. We now have more than 40 pieces of legislation to protect workers and a national minimum wage. There is no justification for extra wage-setting rules in specific sectors."
In particular, Ibec noted that the retention of committees, such as those affecting the retail/grocery, catering and agriculture sectors, was misguided and at odds with the economic needs of the country.
"These committees were struck down as unconstitutional by the High Court in 2012," said McElwee. "It is a serious mistake for the Government to resurrect them. This unnecessary regulation will undermine the ability of employers to create and sustain jobs in this economy."
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Stephen Wynne-Jones
