DO-NOTHING GOVERNMENT DELAYING RIGHTS TO FREELANCE WORKERS

Labour Party Leader, Brendan Howlin TD, has criticised the Government for delaying progress on collective bargaining rights for freelance workers.

“The Government have today confirmed that Labour’s Bill to give collective bargaining rights to freelancers is stuck in parliamentary limbo.

“As we approach the first anniversary of this Government, we have heard much about ‘new politics’, and how legislative activity has ground to a slow crawl.

“There is only one Private Members’ Bill that has passed through one of the Houses over the last year. The Competition Amendment Bill would give collective bargaining rights to freelance workers.

“In the Seanad, it has been championed by Senators Ivana Bacik and Ged Nash. With the support of Minister Mitchell O’Connor, it passed all stages in the Seanad last November. It passed second stage in the Dáil nine weeks ago.

“So, here we have a bill, with cross-party support, that could speedily be enacted, but the Government continue to do nothing but sit on their hands.”