PROPOSALS to dramatically expand job sharing in the public service were last night welcomed by the Civil and Public Service Union.
The new framework contained in a report to the Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Ms Eithne Fitzgerald, suggests that jobs should not be split in two, but into several posts to meet the rising demand for flexible working hours.
It is intended the proposals would create additional employment and also make job sharing more attractive to men. At present, 97 per cent of all job sharers are women and mainly staff in the lower grades.
Ms Fitzgerald is to put the proposals to the Cabinet later this month, a spokeswoman confirmed.
The CPSU deputy general secretary, Mr Blair Horan said the union had been in discussions with the Department of Finance with a view to making job sharing more flexible.
He said the proposed reduction - in the first period of job sharing from 12 months to six would encourage male workers to take on more flexible working arrangements.
Up to 1,000 positions had been created in the Civil Service in the past two years through the practice, mostly in clerical grades.
However, the CPSU was involved in an appeal to the European Court of Justice in relation to the loss of increments to many job sharers upon their return to their original post.
"It is reggrettable that the Department of Finance did not take such a positive attitude towards job sharing, instead of us having to go to the European Court of Justice on behalf of job sharers," he said.
Mr Horan said that, in an unexpected move, the British government had given its support to the CPSU in its European case. The European Court of Justice is to rule shortly.
The report from the Inter Departmental Committee has proposed the following:
. New working time options under which staff can work for four days per week or for three weeks out of every four.
. To reduce the length of the first period for which employees can job share from 12 months to six to attract men.
. Creation of new weekly work schedules under which staff can vary hours or schedules subject toe a weekly minimum of eight hours.
. New arrangements to allow civil servants to take career breaks for self employment.