Elsewhere, Cliff Taylor writes that remote working and flexible working, "look like they are here to stay" despite the criticism of business figures like Denis O’Brien. Taylor says the most recent CSO figures show that almost 36% of people worked at home at least some of the time around the middle of this year. This was up from 20% in the same period in 2019. If the Irish Times pay wall puts it beyond reach you can access that article here.

This week the ETUC and other unions welcomed the ruling of the Court of Justice confirming the validity of the EU Minimum Wage Directive. Professor Roland Erne in UCD described the judgment as “Social Europe 2, Liberal Europe 1”, saying that the directive’s key provisions on issues such as the “reference values” for local minimum wages, obligations on governments to promote collective bargaining and trade union rights had all been left intact.

The share of workers earning the minimum wage differs sharply across Europe (in Ireland it's 4.9%) and the lower figures are attributed to "stronger labour institutions and collective agreements" by the OECD.

Elsewhere, former Labour Court deputy chair Alan Haugh is set to be reappointed to the role after finishing first in a recruitment process, after the Department of Public Expenditure’s refusal in September to sanction the renewal of his contract. 

Your Zen this morning is Ken Early's match report from last night's game between Ireland and Portugal: "Not even in our dreams. Not even in our dreams did we see this coming". 

Bonus Zen this morning is a track from Kae Tempest, who played a triumphant and glorious set last night at Dublin's Vicar Street. It was incredible.

Have a lovely weekend, despite the weather.

NS