The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for the restoration of wage-setting mechanisms in key sectors of the economy such as construction, in order to halt the race to the bottom in wages and standards and to restore some protection for workers’ livelihoods.

Addressing the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation last week Congress vice-President Patricia King said “We need to bring back some balance for workers in key sectors through the restoration of wage-setting mechanisms. In areas such as construction, the absence of these mechanisms has seen wages and standards undermined in a race to the bottom.

“Restoration of these mechanisms in sectors where they previously applied would help address this problem and provide some certainty and protection in relation to peoples’ livelihoods,” Ms King said.

The Congress delegation of vice-President Patricia King and Legal Affairs Officer, Esther Lynch was addressing the Joint Committee in relation to the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2014.