Mr. Gerry Light:

I thank the Chairman and the committee for inviting us to appear before the committee. By way of introduction, Mandate Trade Union is one of the country's largest private sector unions representing some 45,000 workers across retail, distribution, administration and the licensed trade. Not surprisingly, our membership is predominantly female who work in the main part-time hours and, significantly, the sector in which we are active accounts for more than 250,000 workers or approximately 15.5% of the entire workforce.

The importance and value of retail work has significantly increased largely due to the hollowing out and loss of decent employment in other traditional sectors such as construction and manufacturing during the years of economic recession. In many instances, the earnings derived from retail have become the principal income for many households.

Many of the relevant background issues pertinent to this important debate being considered today were highlighted when we presented before this committee in September 2013. Therefore, I urge committee Members to revert to our previous presentation along with what we have to say today in order to build a comprehensive brief on this crucial issue to many thousands of low paid workers and their dependants.

The growth of precarious work and low insecure wages is no doubt the fuel that drives income inequality both in Ireland and globally. However, we suggest that the problem is particularly acute based on recent research emanating from TASC entitled Cherishing all Equally - Economic Inequality in Ireland.

As we emerge from many years of economic recession and associated austerity policies which imposed hardship on many of our citizens, it is time to fundamentally address the type of society that will emerge and the degree of influence open to us in shaping it. Do we repeat the mistakes of the past by placing the greed of the market ahead of the needs of our people? Much emphasis has recently been placed on the importance of work in building both economic and social prosperity into the future. The slogan of "work must pay" is one which is commonly recited. However, we must ensure we go far beyond the rhetoric and ensure that this aspiration becomes a reality for the many thousands of current and prospective workers who are not only entitled to it, but deserve it. Clearly there exists a moral imperative on behalf of the State and employers to create a fundamental shift in how we view the world of work and ensure that the "jobs at any cost strategy" does not become counterproductive.

Based on previous experiences, if left to their own devices far too many employers will ignore this call for a fairer and more decent workplace.

One only has to listen to some of the submissions made to this committee during the past few weeks-----