Helpline: RGDATA WELCOMES GOV REVIEW OF JOINT LABOUR COMMITTEE WAGE SETTING MECHANISM
RGDATA, the representative association for independent family grocers, today welcomed the commitment in the Government’s Four Year Plan for a review of the Joint Labour Committee Wage setting mechanism within the next three months.
“This is a long overdue review. RGDATA had made representations to Government to address this issue as a matter of urgency. We welcome this commitment in the Four Year Plan to address this antiquated wage setting mechanism which is certainly a barrier to employment and does not facilitate employment growth. RGDATA urges the Minister to ensure that the review is carried out immediately so that the 95,000 jobs in the independent retail sector can be preserved,” said RGDATA Director General Tara Buckley.
“The starting wage in the grocery retail sector is currently €9.36 which is €1.71 more than the new national minimum wage – that’s an 18% difference. Grocery Retailers are due to pay two wage increases in 2011 amounting to 2.5% under the Joint Labour Committee system. A 1.25% increase in January and 1.25% in June 2011. This is unsustainable in the current climate. Already 30,000 jobs have been lost in the retail sector. Further wage increases will force retailers to make more staff redundant. In the current climate we should be keeping people in jobs not forcing employers to let staff go.”
For information contact Tara Buckley 01-2887584; 086-8258008 or rgdata@rgdata.ie
