The Government is to establish a new formal structure for dialogue between employers and trade unions to discuss economic and social policies that affect employment and the workplace.
The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to the principle of setting up the new body which will be known as the Labour Employer Economic Forum, or LEEF.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe said the new forum would "allow for the Government to better formulate policy in a post referendum, pre-Brexit environment".
However, he stressed that the move did not represent a return to the former model of social partnership under which employers, unions and other groups enjoyed considerable influence over pay and other areas of public policy.
Mr Donohoe said the new forum would “meet to exchange views on issues of concern affecting the economy, employment and the workplace and some areas it will consider might be competitiveness, sustainable job creation, labour market supports and widening occupational pension coverage”.
“The aim, as for the national economic dialogue, would not be to reach agreement but to develop shared understanding and some level of consensus on key policies affecting employment and the workplace.”
“This is not a return to social partnership. The Labour Employer Economic Forum will not discuss or determine wage levels or wage increases within the public or private sector.”
Mr Donohoe said matters relating to the minimum wage are for the Low Wage Commission.
He said issues relating to public service pay were covered by the Lansdowne road agreement .
"The Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court will remain the key dispute settling industrial relations institutions within a voluntary system of industrial relations."
