Ibec, the group that represents Irish business, has called for greater coordination across government departments in the delivery of new employment regulation.
Speaking at the Ibec Employment Law Conference today, Maeve McElwee, Director of Employer Relations, said that businesses are faced with an onslaught of employment rights-based legislation just as they are moving from the disruption of Brexit and Covid into the kind of inflationary environment not seen for decades.
McElwee added that employers have been largely supportive of developing legislation that aids work-life balance and provides for greater employee security.
“In supporting this agenda, employers have consistently sought a coordinated introduction of new rights such that time and capacity would be afforded to employers to plan for and absorb the costs and administrative burden of such legislation,” she stated.
“Yet as we emerge from Covid, with many sectors now hit with the rising costs associated with energy prices and increasing wage expectations, employers are being required to introduce in quick succession, statutory sick pay, auto-enrolment for pensions, right to request remote working, new whistleblowing legislation and the promise of a Living Wage, among others.”
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The representative body believes that this legislative burden should be reconsidered in the broader context of coordination of social wage factors rather than incurring further government-imposed costs directly onto business.
McElwee added: “Working with Labour Employer Economic Forum, Ibec will seek to support a coordination of tax and social welfare policies which can bring benefits to employees through improved public services or benefits.
“While it will have cost implications, if done effectively the approach can help offset wage demands and reduce the growing risk of wage-price spiral.”
Speakers at the virtual Ibec Employment Law Conference, which is being delivered by SpaceTo, include Pauline O'Hare, Aoife McFadden, Sinéad Gogan, Alan Barrett, Kara McGann, Nichola Harkin, Des Ryan, Dr Colman Noctor and Harry Wall.
Photo (l-r): Nichola Harkin, Head of Employment Law Services, Ibec; Kara McGann, Head of Social Policy, Ibec; Sinéad Gogan, Chief HR Officer, Deloitte Ireland; and Alan Barrett, CEO, ESRI. (Pic: Conor McCabe)
