Minister Calleary responds to IBEC’s call for reform of the JLC system

The Minister for Labour Affairs, Dara Calleary TD responded today (Wednesday 10 June 2009) to IBEC’s call for an overhaul of the Joint Labour Committee system.

According to Minister Calleary, “In Towards 2016, the Social Partners committed to measures aimed at modernising and streamlining the Joint Labour Committee system, including the rationalisation of the number of committees. The implementation of these measures is now well advanced. As part of the modernisation exercise, rationalisation of JLCs in a number of sectors, including contract cleaning, hairdressing, clothing and textile sectors, have already taken place and an agreement in principle to amalgamate the two JLCs in the Catering sector has been reached by the social partners.”

“With a view to continuing the modernisation process, the Government committed, in the context of the Review and Transitional Agreement, to the introduction of legislation to strengthen the existing system for the making of both Employment Regulation Orders and Registered Employment Agreements and to provide for their continued effective operation, including, in particular:

• The introduction of legislation to strengthen the existing system for the making of both Employment Regulation Orders (EROs) and Registered Employment Agreements and to provide for their continued effective operation; and
• Measures to provide for improved operational procedures to include the nomination of chairmen for JLCs for a fixed term of office and the continued enhancement of expertise and competencies through the practice of nominating chairmen on the basis of their experience and qualifications for the role.”

“Work on the preparation of the legislation is well advanced and I am very committed to bringing this forward as soon as possible.” said the Minister.

Minister Calleary added, “I am very conscious of the difficulties that many firms operating in sectors covered by EROs are experiencing as a result of the current economic crisis. It is my view that the parties represented on the JLCs are best placed to address the impact of the economic crisis on employment levels and the viability of services in the sectors. I believe that the recent experience in the catering trade has demonstrated how a constructive engagement by the employer and trade union representatives directly involved in the Joint Labour Committee mechanism can help to promote a shared response to current problems affecting the viability of services and the sustainability of employment at sector level. “

The Minister concluded, “the Government is always open to consider proposals from social partners on any aspects of the industrial relations legal framework and institutional machinery and IBEC’s proposals in relation to the JLC system can be considered in this context.”

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