Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I formally second the Sinn Féin amendment to the motion. We have put this amendment forward because in the 300 words of the Fine Gael motion there is no mention of the words "employee" or "worker" yet we know there is a massive issue in this industry.

University of Limerick reports on low-hours and zero-hour contracts highlighted the accommodation and hospitality industry. Organisations like TASC have looked at the statistics of the industry and have found that of the more than 133,000 who work in the industry, 50% earn less than €400 a week. We have seen shocking revelations this week in the survey conducted by my colleague, Senator Ó Clochartaigh.

I live in Limerick and have always pointed out that every hotel in Limerick operates on the basis of the Irish Hotels Federation template of precarious work contracts. If people get a job in a hotel in Limerick, Galway or Dublin, they will get a contract which says the hotel cannot tell them how many hours of work they will get in a particular week. That is the template. It is outrageous and it is very telling that neither Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil have anything to say about workers' rights and that they have put together a motion like this and ignore that there is a problem.

A representative of the Irish Hotels Federation appeared before the jobs committee and we asked him directly why his organisation refuses to engage with setting up a joint labour committee which would establish decent terms and conditions in the sector. His answer was that we have the minimum wage. Is the Minister okay with that? Is he okay with giving a subsidy worth €620 million a year to an organisation that turns its back on the industrial relations machinery of the State and point blank refuses to engage with the International Labour Organization, which has very important things to say on the tourism sector and the need for sectoral bargaining in order to protect workers because, unfortunately, they have low rates of trade union density.I worked as a trade union official for ten years. The worst experiences I ever had were with cases of workers in this industry, particularly women, because of the abuse, threats and intimidation, including, at times, sexual intimidation. It is an industry that is absolutely risible in terms of standards. I find it absolutely amazing that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are here to represent the owners of hotels. We should know how many Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Deputies, Senators and councillors have a stake in this industry. I cannot think of any reason, other than their having a stake, that they are ignoring the elephant in the room, namely, the appalling working conditions in this sector.

ICTU has written about this issue. Ms Patricia King, who is highly respected, says congress is strongly opposed to this measure and has repeatedly called on the Government to end the de factosubsidy, which costs the taxpayer some €620 million per annum. In fact, despite the huge annual subsidy from the State, employers in the sector have consistently refused to engage with the joint labour committee structures. There is a better way forward here. I ask the Minister to consider the Sinn Féin amendment. To what do my colleagues who are present object? To what clause in the Sinn Féin amendment do they object? All we are asking is that there be proper engagement between the trade unions and employers to set up a joint labour committee. We are saying that, before the huge annual subsidy is agreed, the Government should at the very least insist that employers engage with trade unions to improve standards for workers and the industry. We urge the Irish Hotels Federation and Restaurants Association of Ireland to work towards an agreement for a new joint labour committee. Are Senators objecting to that? Are they opposed to it? If so, they should show me to what part of the amendment they are opposed. If they are not opposed to it, they should vote for it. If they do not vote for it, they are really turning their back on the approximately 130,000 people who work in the industry, namely, the people who actually create the product that has been so successful, the people at the cutting edge or the people who suffer greatly in terms of health and safety.

Does the Minister know the position on the health and safety of hotel employees? Does he know that an average employee has to overturn 17 beds on his or her own? Does he know of the chronic back conditions that result from that? It is all in the documentation if the Minister needs to look at it. Fine Gael did not find the need to mention the words "worker" and "employee", however. It is too busy congratulating the industry on its €620 million gift each year and not even insisting on a standard of decency for the workers. Frankly, it is shameful.

I am genuinely surprised by this because I have great respect for my colleagues, particularly Senator Martin Conway. I generally agree with him on many issues but this motion by Fine Gael is fundamentally wrong. I hope and believe we will have the support of the broad progressive parties and individuals in this Chamber. It is about time that we called out the conservative parties on this. Once again, it comes down to the "c" word: class. We spent far too much time in this Chamber supporting those who had wealth and money, the owners of capital. We spend far too little time thinking about the people who work, create the product, build the product, deal with people every day and who are dealt with appallingly. This industry has shameful conditions and it is high time that this were acknowledged.

I challenge the Minister and any of my colleagues in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to produce an example of one hotel that does not rely on precarious work contracts. How difficult would that be? One would find it extremely difficult. The Irish Hotels Federation has a template; this is how it does business. It does business by saying there is no need to put people on permanent contracts anymore, asking why the employer should make a commitment at that level. Precarious work conditions are offered. The beauty of precarious work conditions from the employer's perspective is that if anybody kicks up a fuss, he or she does not get any hours the following week. The amount of fear and intimidation throughout the industry is absolutely shocking. I speak with first-hand experience. As my colleague said, a considerable number of allies have come to our aid in campaigning for decency, respect and proper working conditions in this industry. I ask the Minister to consider that seriously. I acknowledge it would be quite a move for him given his previous record with trade unions but this is far too important an issue to ignore. On that basis, I ask all my colleagues in the Chamber to support the Sinn Féin amendment.