Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach
Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach
Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach
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18.3 As part <strong>of</strong> ensuring that the granting <strong>of</strong> permission to employ personnel from outside the EEA has<br />
regard to the availability <strong>of</strong> suitable personnel in the local labour market, the Government side<br />
will seek to put in place consultative mechanisms where local labour and business interests can<br />
contribute their perspective to the FÁS assessment <strong>of</strong> local conditions and changing labour market<br />
realities. The recently improved public access to information on the scale and distribution <strong>of</strong> work<br />
permits will also contribute in this regard.<br />
Racism in the Workplace<br />
18.4 In view <strong>of</strong> the culturally diverse nature <strong>of</strong> Irish society and the number <strong>of</strong> non-Irish nationals currently<br />
working here, preventing racism in the workplace is extremely important. Congress and IBEC are<br />
committed to building on the agreed Code <strong>of</strong> Practice against racism in the workplace. It is also<br />
agreed to build on the success <strong>of</strong> the Anti-Racism Workplace weeks and on the material published to<br />
support those workplace activities by developing further anti-racism measures to be agreed between<br />
IBEC, the CIF and ICTU, in conjunction with the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the<br />
Equality Authority and KNOW Racism, as appropriate.<br />
Review <strong>of</strong> Employment Agency Act, 1971<br />
18.5 A review, in consultation with the social partners and others, <strong>of</strong> the need to adapt the Employment<br />
Agency Act, 1971, or the necessity for new legislation, will be undertaken. This review will consider<br />
the most appropriate approach to the regulation <strong>of</strong> agencies and their recruitment and placement<br />
activities in Ireland and will be initiated before Summer 2003.<br />
18.6 In order to effect an early update <strong>of</strong> penalties under the above Act, the opportunity is being availed <strong>of</strong><br />
in the drafting <strong>of</strong> the Fixed Term Contracts Bill to provide that the level <strong>of</strong> fines for operating without<br />
an agency licence will be substantially increased.<br />
18.7 The review will take account <strong>of</strong> the ongoing discussions within the EU on a Draft Directive on<br />
Temporary Agency Workers.<br />
Part 2 Pay and the Workplace<br />
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