Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The amendment provides that in addition to an allowance for board and lodging the national minimum wage will provide a prohibition or restriction on charges or deductions and fair hours of employment rules. I have considered the proposed amendment and I do not consider it necessary. The Payment of Wages Act 1991 already provides a redress mechanism for unlawful deductions from wages while the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 regulates working hours. Section 5(1) of the Payment of Wages Act 1991 allows an employer to make deductions required or authorised by law, for example PAYE or PRSI, deductions required or authorised by a term of the employee's contract, for example occupational pension schemes, or any deduction agreed to in writing in advance by the employee, for example trade union subscriptions or health insurance premia. Section 5 also places significant restrictions on employers regarding deductions or the receipt of payments from the wages of employees. Senators will be aware the University of Limerick is undertaking a study of zero and low hour contracts and I expect it to be completed in quarter three of 2015. I look forward to considering its findings. Where the evidence points to adjustments being required to the protections already in place under Irish employment law these will be brought forward for consideration by me to the Government. Accordingly I cannot accept the amendment.