Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the call made by the President of ICTU, Mr. Peter McLoone for the establishment of a joint labour committee to protect the interests of domestic workers; if he will act on the call made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25439/05]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I have met ICTU and heard its concerns in relation to the employment of domestic workers. ICTU has suggested to me that a joint labour committee could be established for these workers. Joint labour committees, JLCs, are established by the Labour Court and determine minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for workers in their respective sectors. JLCs operate in areas where collective bargaining is not well established and wages tend to be low. The pay and conditions agreed by the joint labour committees are given the force of law in employment regulation orders made by the Labour Court on foot of proposals made to the court by the JLCs.

Legislation provides that an application for the establishment of a joint labour committee can be made to the Labour Court by myself, as Minister, or a trade union or any organisation or group of persons claiming to be representative of such workers or of such employers. In consultation with the Labour Court and the Labour Relations Commission my Department is considering the practicalities of establishing a new JLC for domestic workers.

The Labour Relations Commission commissioned the University of Limerick to carry out a review of the JLC system in 2005. My Department has commenced bilateral discussions with relevant stakeholders regarding implementation of the recommendations contained in the review. The issue of a JLC for domestic workers will be considered in this context also.