Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The Government's remote working Bill is the flimsiest workers' rights legislation ever brought before this Dáil. The Tánaiste likes to present it as part of a package showing that Fine Gael is fighting for workers' rights, is introducing remote working and sick pay rights, has increased the national minimum wage, is tackling low pay and so on. Let us look at a real situation, though. A new order for contract cleaners is coming into effect on 1 April and will increase their wages from €11 an hour to €11.55. In April of next year, they will increase to €11.90. In April 2024, which is more than two years away, they will increase to €12.40. I heard the Minister of State on 96FM radio in Cork the other morning. He was jubilant about this increase for contract cleaners. To be clear, any increase in workers' wages is welcome on this side of the House, but let us take a look at this situation. These were key workers in a pandemic. They got down on their hands and knees to scrub walls and floors, including in Leinster House. In the middle of an inflation crisis and during the week of International Women's Day, though, the Government is promising them pay increases that, in two years, will bring them up to less than the living wage that was calculated last year. That says a great deal about Fine Gael and its workers' rights.

The Bill sets out 13 grounds on which an employer can refuse a request. The point has been made that similar legislation is in place in the UK. It was introduced by a Tory Government in 2014, but that legislation only gives eight reasons on which an employer can refuse. The percentage of workers in the UK who have no form of flexible working has decreased from 74% in 2014 to 70%, representing just a 4% improvement. Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party in government are introducing an even more restrictive Bill.

Although we will vote in favour of the Labour motion, I have some issues with it. I do not have time to outline them.

It is important not to let the State off the hook on its responsibilities for childcare provision. The thrust of the proposal is positive. We will support the motion.

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