Leo Varadkar has revealed if new laws are passed in the Dail the much despised zero-hour contrcts could be banned before Christmas. The Taoiseach said he is committed to creating better employment conditions and well-paying jobs which include pension entitlements.
According to the Taoiseach new legislation to outlaw zero-hour contracts will be a top priority in the current Dail term.
The Taoiseach said: “This legislation is urgent to give people working uncertain hours more certainty and security over their incomes.
“There are too many people going to bed on a Sunday night not knowing how many hours they will work that week, and therefore how much they will earn.
“The Government will legislate to help employees whose contracts do not reflect the reality of the hours they work, and will prohibit so-called zero-hour contracts.”
Employers’ group Ibec has expressed concerns about proposals to introduce legislation to outlaw zero hours working contracts.
Ibec Director of Employer Relations Maeve McElwee said such legislation would lead to significant costs and administration for all employers .
Labour’s employment spokesman Senator Ged Nash, who initiated the process to ban the practice urged the Government to publish proposed legislation now.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has rejected Ibec criticism of the plans to tackle zero hour contracts and precarious work.
Ictu General Secretary Patricia King said:”While the proposed bill has not yet been published and will undoubtedly require further amendment, the overall legislative intent is positive.”
Ireland’s jobless rate stood at 6.3% in August, almost three percentage points below the eurozone average of 9.1%, according to official figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The unemployment rate for August was down from 6.4% in the previous month, and significantly less than the peak of 15.1% it hit during the financial crisis.
