Sinn Féin Louth County Councillor, Jim Loughran, says he is delighted that his motion at todays meeting of the council on Agency Workers was passed unanimously. Speaking after the meeting Cllr Loughran said "I wish to take this opportunity to thank my fellow councillors on Louth County Council for supporting my motion on Agency Workers. As a former trade union shop steward I believe that all workers should be treated fairly and employers guilty of exploiting their workers should be named and shamed.
As the motion which was passed by the Council states "Agency employment should not be used as an unnecessary substitute for direct employment or as a mechanism for avoidance of, or undermining of fair pay and conditions".
" This is a hugely important issue. Increasing numbers of jobs are being filled by agency workers who are working for lower pay and conditions, in the process displacing directly employed workers. The absence of legislation providing for the principle of equal treatment of agency workers means that they are being used by employers to drive down wages and to side step duties they would have to directly employed workers.
"The motion calls for the principle of equal treatment to be included in any Legislation which is brought before the Oireachtas on the issue if Agency Employment."
Finally Cllr Loughran says "I am particulary pleased that this motion has come up on the same week as my colleague Deputy Arthur Morgan together with the other Sinn Féin Deputies and in conjunction with the Labour Party will put forward a Private Members Motion in the Dáil calling on the government to enact legislation to protect the rights of agency workers and to support the introduction of the long promised EU Directive on Temporary Agency Workers."
Text of Council Motion "This Council notes the increase in agency employment throughout the economy. We are aware that many workers from home and abroad are offered agency employment when they are seeking direct permanent employment. We understand trade unions have raised concerns that many of these workers are retrained on minimum conditions and in some instances are not receiving all their entitlements. Agency employment should not be used as an unnecessary substitute for direct employment or as a mechanism for avoidance of, or undermining of fair pay and conditions. Noting that legislation will come before the Oireachtas on the issue of Agency Employment, this Council believes and will recommend to the Minister, that the principle of equal treatment should be included in any such legislation on this issue."