Backsliding on workers' rights 'disgraceful' - ICTU | Breaking News & Latest Ireland Updates

Backsliding on workers' rights 'disgraceful' - ICTU — Work & Technology Correspondent The General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has accused the Government of backsliding on workers' righ...

Work & Technology Correspondent

The General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has accused the Government of backsliding on workers' rights, which he described as 'disgraceful'.

Owen Reidy warned that delays relating to the living wage, sick pay and pension auto-enrolment could result in industrial unrest.

He was addressing a seminar on the minimum wage at Fórsa headquarters to mark International Workers' Day which is celebrated on May Day.

"The backsliding that we have seen from the Government is quite disgraceful, really," Mr Reidy said.

"But it didn't happen out of nowhere and I think the current Government has become hostages to the business lobby groups," he added.

The ICTU General Secretary met with the Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke today to highlight his concerns.

The minimum wage rate has increased repeatedly in recent years but unions have accused the Government of trying to row back on future commitments.

Amid concerns about high business costs, a plan to replace the minimum wage with a new living wage has been delayed by three years to 2029, and a decision on whether to abolish youth sub-minimum rates has been deferred.

The Mandate trade union said an ESRI study released yesterday shows that the three-year deferral of the living wage will affect nearly one-in-five workers coming into new jobs.

"While Mandate collectively bargains pay rates well in excess of the minimum wage in retail and bar trades, we know from our day-to-day work about the increasing usage of minimum wage rates by profitable employers in those trades," said Mandate Interim Assistant General Secretary, Jim Fuery.

"These workers will be especially hard hit by the Government's decision to defer the introduction of the living wage for three years," he added.

On International Workers' Day, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has called for the immediate abolition of sub-minimum rates of pay.

"Today, we’re highlighting the urgent need to address the ongoing issue of inadequate pay, which continues to undermine the living standards of ordinary people, already crippled by a cost of living crisis," said Kathryn Walsh, NYCI Director of Policy and Advocacy.

Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said the Government is doing everything it can to support workers.

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said he must "get a balance" between keeping businesses viable to ensure employment is retained, and also ensuring they are sustainably improving the conditions of workers.

"When we have wage growth in our economy of about 3.5%, inflation is running at 1.7%, it is so important that workers do get just rewards," Mr Burke said.

"But if I recommend to Government increases of 10 and 12%, like have happened in the past, that will lead to unsustainable wage growth, and it's the upward pressure that it continues right across the economy," he added.

Finbarr Filan is Chair of the Policy Group with ISME (Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association).

"We all want to support our employees but our long term view is that you can only increase wages in line with inflation," Mr Filan said.

"Everyone is under pressure with the cost of living but it is not up to small businesses to fix that.

"The Government cannot solve these issues by increasing labour costs which will ultimately drive-up inflation," he added.

May Day rally

This evening, the Dublin Council of Trade Unions will hold its annual May Day rally at the Garden of Remembrance which will be followed by a march to Liberty Hall.

It will include an open top bus representing SIPTU's Respect Transport Workers campaign which is calling for the establishment of a transport policing service to counteract anti-social behaviour on the public transport network.

"May Day is a date for celebrating the victories of the organised workers’ movement such as paid holidays, pension provision and sick pay," said SIPTU Head of Strategic Organising and Campaigns, Darragh O’Connor.