Government double speak on workers’ rights ironic on International Workers’ Day – Rose Conway-Walsh TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Workers’ Rights, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, has called out government double speak on workers’ rights on International Workers’ Day.   Deputy Conway-Walsh urged the government to plan for the introduction of the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive. 

The Mayo TD also acknowledged front-line workers in Gaza.

Teachta Conway-Walsh said:

“Today is a day to celebrate workers of the world and take the opportunity to acknowledge their contribution to our economy and society. 

“Unfortunately, since coming into office the government has reneged on so many progressive measures – introducing a living wage, enhancing paid sick leave entitlements, abolishing sub-minimum youth rates of pay, increasing the Minimum Annual Remuneration for employment permits, and pension auto-enrollment.

“The language used is ‘postponement’, but without concrete timeframes workers fear that ‘delay’ really means ‘deny’.  

“The government will say that global trading uncertainty means it must pause these measures.  That it is being ‘sensible’ and ‘responsible’.  

“But denying a worker an adequate living wage will hardly solve global economic turmoil.  Rather the global context is being used as a smokescreen for the pursuance of policies that will make life harder for ordinary workers and families.

“What is happening before our eyes is a race to the bottom dressed up as fiscal prudency.

“Low paid workers today are faced with a cost-of-living crisis and falling living standards.  They are working harder than ever, yet under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael they are becoming worse off year after year.”

“Moreover, I commend the work of the unions in championing the rights of the working classes and urge the government to support the development and growth of union representation and collective bargaining across the State through the implementation of the EU Adequate Minimum Wages Directive.

“On this day of Workers’ Rights, I want to acknowledge the front-line humanitarian aid workers operating in areas of conflict across the world.

“I particularly commend the medics and NGO workers in Gaza who, in the midst of a genocide, are doing their best to provide support, relief and comfort to the Palestinian people, often in absolutely dreadful and unbearable conditions. 

“I urge the government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill – another pre-election commitment that seems to have been forgotten.”