Tips Bill well intentioned but spotlight must go on Government's failure to actually deliver

Responding to the latest proposal from government on worker's rights, Labour spokesperson on Employmemt Affairs, Senator Marie Sherlock said that while the tips proposal is well intentioned, the announcment today is another in a long list of government promises on worker's rights.

Senator Sherlock said:

"The question has to be asked of government - are they actually serious about improving worker's rights or are they trying to string us all along with promises they have no intention of enacting any time soon?

"I listened to An Tanáiste today say that he would like this legislation to be enacted by end of the year. This is on top of promises to introduce three other worker rights' measures by end of 2021- enact paid sick leave legislation (commitment made in late 2020), enact right to request flexible working legislation (committment made in January 2021) and publication of design of the auto enrollment occupational pension scheme (commitment made in June 2021).

"The reality is that the Joint Oireachtas Committee have yet to even commence pre legislative scrutiny on the goverment's Paid Sick leave legislation as the government has yet to publish the general scheme of the bill. It is very difficult to see how it can go through that plus pass through all stages in the Dáil and Seanad within the next 8 weeks. Since the Dáil returned from its summer recess, the President has yet to sign a single piece of legislation into law.

"Perhaps government time may be better spent following through on long standing legislative committments instead of giving workers false hope of accessing new improved rights any time soon."