Number of joint labour committees to be reduced under new reforms by Bruton

The number of joint labour committees, the wage-setting mechanism that determines terms and conditions for workers in particular sectors, is to be reduced by the Government.

However, joint labour committees are to be reintroduced in an amended form in other areas. The operation of the committees has been suspended since a High Court ruling in 2011. However, reforms in the area were announced last night by Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton.

He said he intended to abolish the joint labour committees that dealt with terms and conditions for staff in the hotel sector in Dublin and in relation to law clerks. The Minister said he planned to amend the scope of others such as those applying in the areas of agriculture, hairdressing, grocery, hotels (outside Dublin), contract cleaning and security. Mr Bruton said he would also be amending the administration of two separate joint labour committees in the catering sector pending their amalgamation.

Mr Bruton also said he intended to look at applying the joint labour committee in the hairdressing sector on a country-wide basis on foot of new legislation.

He added that ultimately under his reforms, joint labour committees would operate only in seven sectors. The Minister's move follows a review of the committees by the Labour Court. The committees comprise representatives of unions and employers under an independent chairman who proposes terms and conditions to be incorporated in legally binding employment regulation orders.

Mr Bruton signalled his intention to reform this area shortly after coming into office. However, the operation of the committees was suspended in July 2011 following a successful constitutional challenge brought by a group of employers in the catering sector.

The Government subsequently introduced legislation in 2012 under which a review of individual joint labour committees was to be established. Mr Bruton said he was accepting the recommendation of the Labour Court review which called for a reduction in the number of joint labour committees and an amendment to the scope of others.

A spokesman for the Minister said terms and conditions of staff affected by the ending of the committees in the Dublin hotel sector and in relation to law clerks would continue to be covered by their existing contracts of employment. He said any changes would relate to new employees and they would have the protections of employment legislation, the minimum wage and collective bargaining where unions operated.