Low paid workers must be protected – Shortt

THE focus of wage cuts should be shifted from those working in the tourism industry to higher paid professions, according to a local politician, who spoke out on behalf of low paid workers.

Reacting to comments made by the director of the Shannon College of Hotel Management, reported in a recent edition of the Limerick Post, Labour Cllr Tom Shortt, said that employers were using the recession as a cover to drive down wage costs to already under paid workers.

Cllr Shortt said that there had been a strong reaction on the ground, among those working in the tourism industry, to remarks made by Mr. Smyth that the abolition of premium payments for Sunday workers would create jobs.

“People employed in the tourism industry are very hard workers and need to be protected.

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“Sunday is culturally a day off, to spend with family or doing leisure activities, and those who work it are denied that, so the extra sacrifice should be awarded”.

Mr Smyth had claimed that the tourism industry was being “strangled by the Joint Labour Committee,” and was outdated.

In response, Cllr Shortt said that it was essential to protect low paid workers.

“The spotlight should not be placed solely on the service industry.

“We should be taxing bankers, consultants, judges and all on exorbitant salaries, who put up huge resistance to any reduction in their wages.

“A lot of people were horrified by the payments made to outgoing senators.

“This needs to be a much broader debate”.

In response to Mr. Smyth’s comment that Ireland does not have “a sense of service to match our wonderful sense of hospitality”, the Thomondgate councillor said that morale was down among workers.

“Morale is an issue and will not improve if staff are stripped of minimal working conditions.

“The hotel industry benefits greatly from generous tax relief schemes, while the promotion of tourism is also paid for by the state.

“While its true that tourism is essential, it is a reflection of a vibrant economy and will only grow with it.

“There is the feeling there that employers are exploiting workers, cutting wages and using the recession as cover”.

He said that it was easy to pigeonhole the vulnerable in society, who did not cause the economic melt down.

Speaking about Minister Richard’s Bruton’s proposals to change basic rates and conditions for low paid workers in the hotel, catering and retail sectors, Cllr Shortt said that Labour is lobbying to ensure that wage levels be maintained.