Almost 500 jobs have been created in the restaurant sector over the last two months, it was claimed today.
A survey by the Restaurants Association of Ireland revealed 270 people found work in individual restaurants since new pay rates were introduced, with another 150 jobs filled in McDonalds and 70 in Eddie Rockets.
The association said the employment regulation orders had created a barrier to job creation.
“The major factor in the last two months for job creation is the abolishing of the Joint Labour Committees (JLC) Employment Regulation Order (ERO),” association chief executive Adrian Cummins said.
Of 148 restaurants surveyed nationwide, six out of ten said abolishing EROs was a factor in hiring new staff.
Wages and local authority costs were the main issues affecting them, with 92.5 per cent stating Government proposals to re-establish the JLC’s in the autumn would affect the employment potential of their business. Elsewhere 93.9 per cent have passed on the VAT reduction.
The Irish restaurant industry employs 64,000 people one in four tourism jobs - and contributes €2 billion to the Irish economy each year.
The association said the JLC system makes absolutely no sense for the country trying to work its way out of the depths of an economic crisis.
PA