Joint Labour Committees must be re-established immediately – Deputy Seán Crowe

Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has welcomed the re-establishment of the Joint Labour Committees (JLCs).

Crowe said that the process of implementing the Joint Labour Committees, which are in place to protect the rights’ of workers by ensuring statutory minimum remuneration levels and the terms and conditions of employment contracts must begin immediately.

Deputy Seán Crowe said: “Last July, when the High Court struck down the JLCs the rights’ and incomes of low paid workers were further eroded. Official statistics show that the income gap continues to widen with people on low wages being forced onto the ‘Dole’ or into poverty.

“During the legislative process Sinn Féin put down a number of amendments to secure the rights of low paid workers including the retention of the Sunday Premium. These were opposed by the Labour TD’s who voted inexplicably in favour of reducing workers’ actual rights in this area.

The onus is now on the Government to include additional categories of low-paid workers and establish a Code of Practice for Sunday working that respects the traditional rights and entitlements of low paid workers.

“We need to protect low paid workers from exploitation and to establish fair pay and conditions for a fair days work..”