Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 68: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his Department's strategy to prevent the displacement of workers and their replacement with lower paid workers who are subjected to exploitative terms and conditions. [37971/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland already has a comprehensive body of employment rights legislation which has among its objectives the protection of employees against arbitrary behaviour by employers. It also has wider aims such as provision for the safety and health of workers and the fostering of labour market harmony by promoting policies that minimise conflict and maximise fairness.

Specific areas covered by legislation include working time, payment of wages, holidays, national minimum wage, unfair dismissal, redundancy payments, protection of young persons and transfer of undertakings. In general, Irish legislation mirrors the broader EU social protection framework in this area.

Usually, one would expect the composition of a workforce to reflect the broad population of the local catchment area, provided appropriate personnel are available for the specific vacancies arising. However, it should be borne in mind that as far as Ireland is concerned, there is now an EU labour market and nationals of other member states have the same right and freedom to come and work in Ireland as do Irish nationals. Accordingly, employers can choose to hire such workers without regard to nationality. It is important that this be appreciated.

Concerns with regard to the protection of workers' jobs, pay and conditions of employment, to which the Deputy referred, raise complex legal and policy issues. New challenges are constantly posed by population movement, by the changing structure of the economy, by new work practices and by growing international economic integration. In recent years, our economy has adapted very successfully to these challenges and the continued situation of virtual full employment is evidence of this.

As Deputies know, the Government has already communicated its intention to engage fully and effectively in the process of devising policies and measures which would protect employment standards and arrest a race to the bottom in terms of employment practices. I am confident that a successful response to these issues can be found for our economy, where the exceptional legal and other characteristics of the marine sector do not apply. They are best found within the context of a social partnership agreement which continues the stability and progressive modernisation of our labour force and employment practices in order to sustain jobs and living standards.

I view with great concern the potential social implications of the displacement of workers on established conditions in favour of those willing to do the same jobs on much poorer conditions. The Taoiseach is on record as stating that we want to see greater productivity and enhanced competitiveness based on new products and services, upskilling of staff, new work practices and technological innovation. We do not want to see people building competitive advantage based on poor wages, casualisation of labour, low health and safety standards or other poor compliance practices. Not only is it wrong, it is simply not sustainable.

While recognising the exceptional situation that has recently arisen in the maritime sector, it is important to remember that the full panoply of Irish employment law and social protection still applies to persons employed in Ireland, regardless of nationality. This body of law is, and will continue to be, enforced by my Department.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The bland phrases "hire workers without regard to their nationality", "view with great concern" and "the Taoiseach would like to see" are not the answer I hoped to get. I was hoping the Minister would give a crystal clear assurance that the Government is opposed to displacement. The Minister said that workers will be hired without regard to their nationality, but that is not what is happening. I have a communication from a constituent who applied for a job as a mushroom picker, but was told that only foreign nationals need apply. Can the Minister give me an unambiguous reply stating that he rejects the drive by certain employers and economists to make this State a low wage economy on the back of exploitation? That is the way we are heading and I would appreciate clarity on the issue.

Would the Minister accept that what Irish Ferries is doing is trying to bring us back to the 19th century? In the 19th century workers had to fight hard to achieve an eight-hour day. That was achieved by the 20th century in most states in Europe and in North America. Irish Ferries is trying to bring us back to a situation where the 12-hour day is the norm. Will the Minister tell me whether he is opposed to that type of activity by exploitative employers? In Norway, for example, there is an excellent relationship between employers and workers and the majority of workers, over 90%, are members of trade unions. Norway has a partnership process through which workers and employers create a better and more competitive economy. We should work towards a competitive economy, not the one some exploitative employers are currently trying to achieve.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy obviously did not hear my reply. I will repeat the key sentence. "We do not want to see people building competitive advantage based on poor wages, casualisation of labour, low health and safety standards or other poor compliance practices." I have made it clear here on several recent occasions that we do not want to see a reduction in living standards. We see the economic development of the country based on securing competitive advantage, upskilling of our employment force, greater qualifications, development of new products and services and greater innovation etc. That is our future. The future is not to be found in policies that would reduce living standards, wages, pay and conditions. This side of the House has, historically, always been to the fore in establishing and asserting workers' rights. We were the architects of social partnership in the country.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Offering cars and everything.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Going right back to the foundation of the party of which I am proud to be a member, it is accepted that we have always had a modern and progressive approach to workers' rights and to the establishment of modern, progressive labour market policies——

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

And dancing at the crossroads.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We will continue to do that. The record will show what we have done. I have been in discussions with the social partners and I share their concerns. The best way to advance the protection of workers is through social partnership. It offers the best opportunity for all concerned to use that forum as a basis for agreeing whatever new measures are required to ensure a greater degree of compliance with labour law and to examine the modalities of how we do that — we have an open mind on that score — in a wide range of areas to ensure the scenario which the Deputy has outlined does not become a reality.

There are numerous examples throughout the economy, particularly in advanced manufacturing and in other areas, where clearly the opposite has occurred. We are attracting employment that produces higher wages and a better quality of employment in information and communications technologies, software, pharmaceuticals and biopharma. That is the direction in which we want to go in future.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister said: "We do not want to see". That is not as strong as saying he is opposed to the displacement of workers. I would like to hear him state he is opposed to it. There are many things I do not wish to see but I am not necessarily strongly opposed to them. I urge the Minister to give a clear message so that workers can be reassured of the Government's firm commitment that it is opposed to displacement, not just that it does not want to see it.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We have said this. I said it in the House last week.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I urge the Minister to say he is opposed to it. If he says the words, I will go with him.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

With all due respect, Sinn Féin will not act as spin doctor for my good self. Let us be very clear about this matter — the Taoiseach was very clear in the House — we are against any reduction in living standards or displacement of workers. That is the bottom line in terms of what has happened.