Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach

Part 2 Sustaining Progress
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Section 9: Introduction
9.1 The parties to this Agreement recognise the key importance of adapting the world of work in line with
Ireland’s competitive and social vision, as well as changing work patterns and preferences. Building
on the work carried out under previous agreements, they have agreed the following package of
legislation, Codes and programmes aimed at:
■ protecting employees’ rights;
■ ensuring greater equality;
■ improving skills;
■ promoting health and safety;
■ bringing about a better work-life balance; and
■ developing integrated policies for migrant workers.
Section 10: Workplace Legislation and Codes
Information and Consultation Directive
10.1 The Government is committed to transposing the EU Council Directive 2002/14/EC on Employee
Information and Consultation by March 2005. The Directive provides a general framework for
information and consultation of employees on matters that affect them.
10.2 Subjects upon which employees must be informed and consulted include:
■ recent and probable development of the undertaking’s or the establishment’s activities and
economic situation;
■ the situation and probable development of employment within the undertaking and any
anticipatory measures envisaged, in particular, where there is a threat to employment; and
■ decisions likely to lead to substantial changes in work organisation or in contractual relations.
Consultations with the social partners have been initiated and are ongoing.
Implementation of three EU Employment Related Equality Directives
10.3 The three Directives provide a general framework for combating discrimination on grounds of racial
or ethnic origin in both the employment and non-employment areas (Race Directive), as well as a
general framework for the prohibition of discrimination in relation to employment on grounds of
religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (Framework Employment Directive); and update
certain aspects of the 1975 Equal Pay and the 1976 Equal Treatment Directives which provide for the
prohibition of discrimination in relation to employment on grounds of gender (Gender Equal
Treatment Directive).