Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Daly and Conway-Walsh for bringing the Bill before the House. If enacted, it would bring transparency to the area of pay in job advertisements. This has always been a glaring omission in job advertisements. People looking at the advertisement for a particular position they are interested in, and which they feel might suit them, never see a reference to the rate of pay. This immediately puts people on the back foot. They are unsure of what is going on, what they can apply for and whether it would suit. It creates an immediate dynamic between the employer and a job applicant in which the employer holds all the cards. When applicants sit across from them at the table the employers can decide what rate of pay they will give them at any given time. Applicants have always remained uncertain about the benefits of the job for which they are applying. They are likely to have to provide personal and, at times, very revealing information at interview stage. Their ability to negotiate and demand fair play is diminished. In turn, this can put people off applying for a particular position. This has also led to applicants anticipating a rate of pay, especially if they are coming into the city from the country and are trying to figure out whether a job would pay enough to rent somewhere in the city or whether they should travel up and down. Phrases such as "competitive salary" mean little or nothing in the grand scheme of things. It is a pointless phrase that gives an impression of a positive rate being on offer without any commitment to one.

This habit of advertising jobs without explicit rates of pay being displayed, or rates of pay being substituted with a leading or misleading phrase, has opened the door to a range of trouble and possibilities with regard to equality and gender equality. Hiding the rate of pay enables discrimination. We all know unscrupulous employers and there is no doubt about that. Hiding the rate of pay can enable them to decide that a particular rate of pay will apply to a particular type of person. People who may be members of a minority may be afraid to speak up when the issue of pay is discussed. This can perpetuate the gender pay gap which, sadly, is still evident in certain areas.

Ultimately, the Bill seeks to address these issues by requiring that jobs be advertised with details of the expected salary included. This would empower employees and potential employees. The Bill seeks to get rid of advertisements that are deliberately open to interpretation and guarantee nothing. The Bill is for workers. It is aimed at strengthening their position in the job application process. I welcome it. I also welcome the fact that the Government will not oppose it. We look forward to it going further.

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