Minister for Labour Affairs Announces New Agreement

on Pay and Conditions in Mushroom Enterprise

Minister Billy Kelleher T.D, Minister for Labour Affairs today (Wednesday 12th December 2007) announced the registration of a new employment agreement within the mushroom industry.

The Registered Employment Agreement has been agreed between Drimbawn Mushroom Ltd, which has a number of operations in Mayo and Kildare, and SIPTU, representing mushroom workers in these operations.

The effect of registering this agreement with the Labour Court is to make the provisions of the agreement legally enforceable.

Minister Kelleher said, “This is a significant development in this industry and I congratulate the parties involved in drawing up this agreement. The initiative they have shown in providing for minimum pay rates and terms and conditions of employment for these workers, which are legally enforceable, is to be welcomed”

“The Mushroom sector has been the subject of criticism in recent times as a result of an element of exploitation of vulnerable workers in the sector, particularly migrant workers. It is therefore good to see an enlightened approach on a partnership basis being taken to address these concerns by Drimbawn and SIPTU.”

The agreement, in addition to setting out minimum rates of pay also includes provisions on such areas as hours of work, leave entitlements, trade union representation and responsibilities, and grievance and dispute resolution procedures.

The Minister added, “Of particular significance is the fact that the agreement covers not only direct employees of Drimbawn, but also workers employed through an agency or subcontractor.”

The Minister added, “I am very encouraged at the commitment shown in successfully negotiating this agreement and I hope that the conclusion of this agreement will set an example for others to follow.”

(This press release is also available on the Department’s website www.djei.ie)

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NOTE FOR EDITORS

REGISTERED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

Employment Agreements (provided for in the Industrial Relations Acts, 1946 to 2004) are agreements on pay and conditions of employment negotiated by the two sides in an industry or enterprise. Employment Agreements may be presented to the Labour Court for registration. Where the Labour Court is satisfied that the agreement presented satisfies the statutory requirements, it will register the agreement. The effect of this is to make the provisions of the agreement legally enforceable in respect of every worker of the class, type or group to which it is expressed to apply and to his or her employer, even if such worker or employer is not a party to the agreement.

A Registered Employment Agreement may provide for future variation of any of its provisions; an application to vary the provisions of such an agreement must be made to the Court, which will consider the application and, if satisfied, make a Variation Order.

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