Written answers

Thursday, 23 March 2006

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Employment Rights

5:00 pm

Photo of Tommy BroughanTommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to research prepared for the ATGWU, based on the Watson Wyatt labour cost survey, which shows that Irish workers earn less, work longer hours and have fewer benefits than those in most western European economies; his views on the findings of the research; the steps he intends to take to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11263/06]

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the report to which the Deputy refers. I do not necessarily agree with its conclusions. However, in general, terms and conditions of employment are determined by a process of voluntary collective bargaining between employers and employees. As the Deputy will be aware, the current discussions on a possible social partnership agreement will impact on the terms of conditions of employment of workers for the next period.

The position of the low-paid has improved through successive national partnership agreements, through increases in the national minimum wage and in the annual budgetary changes to taxation. Studies have found that the net earnings of a worker on the minimum wage have broadly kept pace with a worker on the average industrial wage. This is the case in terms of both gross and net earnings.

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