Labour

TD

Arthur Spring

criticised the attitude of State agencies to the employment conditions of some workers.

He had heard the heads of agencies refer to contracts of those in receipt of low pay and also those on middle and higher incomes.

“Such talk is not good for society in general, and it does not provide people with either security of tenure, peace of mind or the capacity to progress, particularly in the context of access to housing and loans.

“The model of multiple jobs and multiple careers through contracts is not one for which anyone should advocate.’’

Mr Spring said those whose primary reason for getting out of bed each morning was a low-paid job must be protected. He was speaking during the resumed debate on Sinn Féin’s Private Members’ motion calling for an end to zero-hour contracts.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said workers had been threatened with having their hours cut in an outrageous way since the Dunnes Stores strike. "This is just one employer, but it is happening against a background of a chronic low-pay issue in this country where 16 per cent of adults, whose income is below the poverty line, are actually working. The phenomena of zero-hour contracts, and the appalling treatment of workers, are rampant throughout the economy.''

Socialist Party TD Paul Murphy said Dunnes Stores had engaged in "outrageous victimisation and retribution'' against those workers who stood up against low-hour contracts, lack of job security, short-term contracts, low pay and lack of union recognition.

“What is happening in Dunnes Stores is symptomatic of the so-called recovery involving low-hour, short-term contracts, low pay and bullying employers.’’