The European Parliament has backed a new directive aimed at improving work-life balance for working parents and carers.

Fórsa has welcomed a Government Bill, which would compel firms to report on their gender pay gaps. But the union says it wants to see a quick expansion of the number of companies covered by the new law.

Fórsa has queried a National Competitiveness Council (NCC) warning that wage costs are rising too quickly to maintain Ireland’s competitiveness. The NCC’s annual ‘Cost of doing business in Ireland’ report, which was published last week, cited wage costs among potential threats to future competitiveness.

A new affordable childcare scheme, which comes into effect in October, will replace existing targeted programmes with a single, streamlined plan. Unions have welcomed an increase in the qualifying income threshold for State childcare support, but says more needs to be done to address low pay among early years’ providers.

The inaugural meeting of Fórsa’s Disability Network took place earlier this month, with a strong focus on the workplace experience of people with disabilities.

Fórsa’s recent ‘Green New Deal for Workers’ event shone a light on the impact of decarbonisation on workers in energy and other sectors, and the actions that unions should take to advocate effectively for climate justice.

Fórsa’s campaigning summer school is set to return for a third year on 21st and 22nd June.