The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has told a Dail Committee that low paid workers are more likely than other workers 'to suffer from a range of unfair employment practices" that adversely affects their ability to earn a living.
Addressing the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation on legislation establishing the Low Pay Commission, Congress Legislation & Social Affairs" Officer Esther Lynch said:
"Our overall analysis is that raising the hourly rate of the national minimum wage is critically important, but the hourly rate is only part of the problem faced by low paid workers.
'they are more likely to be subject to a range of unfair employment practices, such as deductions from wages and unstable "zero hour" type arrangements in which they are vulnerable to having their hours reduced," Ms Lynch said.
"In that context, improving certainty about hours of work is as important as increasing the rate that the worker is entitled to be paid – both are equally critical factors. Likewise deductions should not bring workers" wages below the national minimum wage rate."
Ms Lynch said any new legislation had to include provisions that ensured employers could not frustrate attempts to improve working conditions, such as efforts to establish of Employment Regulation Orders in sectors such as Hotel and Catering.
Ms Lynch said it was also critical that workers who gave evidence to the Low Pay Commission "are protected from possible employer reprisals. It is unacceptable that workers could be threat - of having their hours of work reduced, for example - if they give evidence regarding their own situation," she said.
