Government backs Bill on collective bargaining for freelancers

The Government has accepted the principle of Labour-sponsored Seanad legislation providing collective bargaining rights for freelance workers.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor said she believed the House could agree on the principle behind the Competition (Amendment) Bill but said it would have to be amended.

The Government’s amendments would be introduced at Seanad report stage, by October, she said.

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik said she welcomed the Minister's support but added: "We will be very anxious to see the shape of the amendments and to ensure they do not undermine the purpose of the Bill."

Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell said he was disappointed with the pace of the Bill's passage through the Oireachtas.

Fine Gael, he said, had spoken in glowing terms of how supportive it was of the Bill but also talked about the Attorney General's advice on its legality.

One distinguished Cabinet Minister had said the Attorney General’s advice was nothing “only an opinion”, he added.

Independent Senator Frances Black said freelance workers needed the power of collective bargaining. Freelance workers, small-business owners and those on zero-hour contracts were at the most vulnerable in the workforce but at times had the least protection, she added.