Mr. Richie Browne:

The vast majority of people working in this sector are among the most vulnerable in society. There are a huge number of foreign nationals, women and young people at college. Because of fear, they do not have collective representation even though they have the right to it. The employers refuse to sit down and engage with the JLC despite the fact that the JLC works very well in the cleaning and security industry.

They are refusing to sit down and engage with a joint labour committee, JLC, despite the fact that the JLC for the cleaning and security industry works very well. The employers are refusing to engage with a joint labour committee. In the absence of collective organisation, a national agreement, or an employment regulation order, ERO, arrived at through a JLC, these workers need to be protected to the greatest extent possible though legislation and regulation. Unfortunately, this Bill does not provide that protection but, as we have said already, Senator Gavan's Bill does.