Industrial Relations Section

Minister Bruton publishes legislation to reform JLC/REA systems

On Thursday 22^nd December 2011, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, published the Industrial Relations (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2011 to implement reforms to the Joint Labour Committee and Registered Employment Agreement wage settling mechanisms, following the Government decision of Tuesday 20th December 2011.

The Bill, when enacted, will implement the programme of reforms to the JLC/REA systems agreed by Government in July. It will radically overhaul the system so as to make it fairer and more responsive to changing economic circumstances and labour market conditions. It will also reinstate a robust system of protection for workers in these sectors in the aftermath of the High Court ruling in John Grace Fried Chicken and others v The Catering Joint Labour Committee, The Labour Court, Ireland and the Attorney General.

• INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 2011 (PDF, 392KB)
• INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 2011 - EXPLANATORY AND FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM (PDF, 350KB)
• INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS (AMENDMENT) (No. 3) BILL 2011 - Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF, 157KB)

Consultation by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on the Reform of the State’s Employment Rights and Industrial Relations Structures and Procedures

The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation is engaging in a consultation exercise with interested parties and organisations. Interested parties are urged to submit their comments on the Consultation on the Reform of the State’s Employment Rights and Industrial Relations Structures and Procedures (210 KB, PDF format) to employmentreform@djei.ie before Friday 15^th September 2011.

Minister Bruton signs European Works Council Regulations

• On 13 July 2011, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, signed SI No. 380 of 2011 European Communities (Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act 1996) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, which transpose Directive 2009/38/EC.
  • Further information on the European Works Council Regulations

New National Minimum Wage of €8.65 from 1 July 2011

• On 30 June 2011, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation signed SI No. 331 of 2011 National Minimum Wage Act 2000 (Section 11) (No. 2) Order 2011 setting the hourly rate of pay from 1 July 2011 at €8.65. The Industrial Relations Section deals with policy issues related to the operation of the Act. Information on the implementation of the Act can be obtained from the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA).

Minister Bruton publishes report of ERO/REA review and outlines time-limited programme for finalising action plan in June.

• On 24 May 2011, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation published the Report of the Independent Review of Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) and Registered Employment Agreement Wage Setting Mechanisms (PDF, 521KB) and set out a time-limited programme for a Government decision to be taken and announced on an action plan before the end of June 2011.
• Press release announcing the publication of the ERO/REA Review and outlining time-limited programme for finalising action plan in June.

Dispute between TEEU and Employers in the Electrical Contracting Industry

• Dispute between the TEEU and Employers in the Electrical Contracting Industry: Report and Recommendations (PDF, 307KB)

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill

• Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2009 (PDF, 327KB)
  • Explanatory and Financial Memorandum (PDF, 307KB)
  • Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF, 33KB)