Latest news with #EmploymentRegulationOrders
Irish Examiner
13 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Labour body proposes 10% rise in minimum pay for childcare workers
A 10% increase in minimum rates of pay for childcare workers has been proposed by the Joint Labour Committee. Children's minister Norma Foley welcomed the development, after highlighting that not all of a €45m ring-fenced allocation was being used for pay and conditions. The proposals have been put forward by the Joint Labour Committee, which is made up of employer and worker representatives. The new proposals for a 10% increase in minimum pay represent a significant step toward ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector It has the responsibility for setting minimum rates of pay for over 35,000 staff in the early years and childcare sector. The changes would be part of an employment regulation order (ERO) which is a mechanism to set the minimum rates of pay and conditions for workers in a specified business sector. The order is drawn up by a Joint Labour Committee and signed into law by the minister for enterprise. Ms Foley said: 'The new proposals for a 10% increase in minimum pay represent a significant step toward ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector. 'I am committed to ensuring the successful implementation of these proposals by providing a ring-fenced allocation of €45m from Core Funding. 'It has been specifically earmarked to support services in meeting the cost of the proposed increases in pay and conditions.' Recently, Ms Foley met with the Joint Labour Committee to highlight the availability of this €45m in Core Funding from the state for increased pay for staff in the early years and childcare sector. She said: 'I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Joint Labour Committee in these negotiations and their vital role in advancing the professionalism and value of those working in the sector. 'If these proposals are implemented through updated Employment Regulation Orders, they will bring much-needed improvements in pay for these dedicated professionals, enhancing the quality of care and education provided to children across Ireland. 'I am hopeful that these proposals will soon come into effect, marking a positive change for our dedicated and skilled staff in the early learning and childcare sector and the services that employ them.' Read More Tánaiste orders evacuation of Irish embassy staff in Iran
Irish Independent
14 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Minimum pay for childcare workers to rise by 10pc after deal brokered for funding
Employer and worker representatives have put forward proposals to increase wages for early year educators and school age childcare practitioners. Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, welcomed the proposals tabled by employer and worker representatives who are members of a Joint Labour Committee. 'The new proposals for a 10pc increase in minimum pay represent a significant step towards ensuring fair pay for educators and practitioners working in the sector,' she said. Ms Foley said she is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the proposals by providing a ring-fenced allocation of €45m from the government's Core Funding scheme for the sector. She said this amount has been earmarked to support services in meeting the cost of the proposed increases in pay and conditions. Recently, the minister met with the Joint Labour Committee to highlight the availability of the funding. 'I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Joint Labour Committee in these negotiations and their vital role in advancing the professionalism and value of those working in the sector,' she said. If the proposals are implemented through updated Employment Regulation Orders for the workers, she said they will bring much-needed improvements in pay for dedicated professionals and enhance the quality of childcare. 'I am hopeful that these proposals will soon come into effect, marking a positive change for our dedicated and skilled staff in the early learning and childcare sector and the services that employ them,' she said. A spokesperson for providers group, Childcare Service Ireland, said it is pleased to have reached an agreement that enables ring-fenced funding for wages to reach early years educators. ADVERTISEMENT 'There are several pressing issues facing providers, and we look forward to working with the minister to address these challenges,' she said. "Our goal is to ensure the continued sustainability of a high-quality early childhood education and care sector.' The spokesperson said any further wage increases must be fully supported by government funding 'as the ongoing fee freeze and the incoming fee caps significantly limit providers' ability to absorb additional costs'. Darragh O'Connor, Siptu head of organising, said the proposals are a big step forward in the union's campaign for recognition, respect and decent pay for early years professionals. "It's widely acknowledged that there's a staffing crisis that is impacting on parents due to a lack of supply, and impacting on quality for children because of the high levels of staff turnover,' he said. 'We need to see continued year on year investment by government for pay so that educators can afford to stay in their profession.'
Irish Examiner
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Martin and Starmer discuss security and trade deals before Brexit reset summit
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has spoken to the British prime minister about a deal on trade and security with the EU that could be agreed as early as next week. It is now hoped that a security pact between the EU and Britain will be signed at the first Brexit reset summit due to be held in London. Special attention will also be given to access to waters for fisheries and energy cooperation at the meeting. The European Council has said the summit will also examine sanitary and phytosanitary measures, internal security and criminal matters, emissions trading systems, as well as 'people-to-people contacts, including migration and youth mobility". "Ireland anticipates a good outcome to that summit," Mr Martin said after the call with Keir Starmer, which lasted more than 20 minutes. Both men also discussed the productive 'coalition of the willing' meeting on Saturday and agreed good progress had been made in support of Ukraine. They agreed to continue working with international partners and put pressure on Putin to accept the ceasefire deal on the table without conditions. Separately, the Government is opposing People Before Profit's Trade Union Recognition Bill, set for debate and vote on Wednesday, which will force companies to recognise and negotiate with workers who organise. At the moment, a worker can join a union, but the boss has no obligation to even acknowledge it. This leaves workers vulnerable in the face of bullying, low pay, and unsafe conditions. However, the Government has decided to oppose the bill for a number of reasons, including the constitutionality of it as it is considered that it would breach Article 40.6.1(iii). "Other considerations we have reviewed in opposing this bill are the burden that it would put on the Labour Court and the WRC, the misinterpretation of the purpose of Employment Regulation Orders and sections which are already in effect in existing legislation," a Government spokesperson said. Ireland's attractiveness as an investment location and the basis for much of our competitive advantage has been due to the stability and industrial peace provided by our voluntary model for social dialogue. "The Government is committed to delivering an action plan this year which will provide strong support to unions and employers to ensure that they have the capacity to support worker rights and business transformation. "It will be important to do this in a manner that is ambitious, balanced, legally sustainable, and cognisant of the views of the consultation that is currently underway." Separately, the Government will table an 18-month timed amendment to the Public Health (Restriction on Sale of Stimulant Drinks to Children) Bill 2025 as it is at the early stages of considering the programme for government commitment to 'explore restrictions on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks, including a ban on their sale to children". "A body of work will need to be carried out to identify any public health concerns with regard to energy drink consumption in Ireland and to identify appropriate policy responses. It is too early at this stage to consider draft legislation as set out in this Private Member's Bill," a government spokesperson said. Read More Europe must form new links to stand up to Trump's America
