Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Issued : Sunday 4 September, 2005

Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Labour Youth notes the current paltry levels of minimum wage and further notes that the inspectorate set up to police it is inadequate. Labour Youth believes that contrary to the neo-liberal ideology of this government that properly funded and extensive public services are essential for the social and economic development of the country.

Labour Youth also supports the well-deserved pay increases awarded to public servants under the benchmarking process. We further note the implementation of a four day working week in France and Germany which was introduced by our sister parties the French Socialist Party and the SPD. This progressive measure gives people an appropriate balance between their working lives and non-working lives.

Labour Youth calls for an increase in the minimum wage to living wage standards and for:

1. All employers to be under an obligation to publicise levels of minimum wage in the work place.
2. The Inspectorate to be given greater powers to monitor and directly discipline or fine non-compliant employers.
3. Opposition to any attempt to privatise Ireland's public services.
4. The implementation of a 4-day working week.