Billy Kelleher TD, Minister for Labour Affairs welcomes Temporary Agency Work break-through

22 October 2008

The Minister for Labour Affairs, Mr Billy Kelleher T.D., welcomed today’s decision by the European Parliament to approve the proposal for an EU Directive on Temporary Agency Work and has invited Social Partners to discussions. The European Parliament voted to support the Common Position adopted at Council, on 9^th June 2008 without amendment. Minister Kelleher represented the Irish Government at the June Council.

Commenting on today’s developments, the Minister said that: “This agreement shows that the European Union can take decisions and deliver tangible benefits for all its citizens. In the case of the Parliament vote, which approved the Common Position of Ministers’ taken in June, agency working will continue to be a legitimate form of flexible labour market supply but it cannot be used to indefinitely circumvent obligations to workers regarding basic working and employment conditions".

In the light of this welcome development, the Minister for Labour Affairs is now inviting the Social Partners to discussions with his Department. These discussions will be aimed at establishing a framework within which agency workers in Ireland would achieve equal treatment within an agreed timeframe. The proposed Transitional Agreement 2008-2009 recently concluded by the Social Partners contains a commitment to developing such a framework.

The Minister said: " I hope that any agreement reached by social partners would reflect the particular circumstances of the Irish labour market and take account of the de facto position in other EU Member States. This is an opportunity to achieve a balanced outcome which will meet the needs of employers for flexible labour supply and the protection of potentially vulnerable agency workers. Furthermore it represents a further opportunity for social partnership to demonstrate again its value as an enabler of economic and social progress”.

ENDS/LA301