In July 1997 the EU Commission issued a proposal for a Council Directive relating to part-time employees.
Fiona Thornton of A & L Goodbody's Commercial Department examines the potential repercussions for Irish employers.
In July 1997 the EU Commission issued a proposal for a Council Directive relating to part-time employees. It aims to outlaw employment discrimination against part-timer workers. Irish part-time employees do not have this protection. Therefore, this move has implications for Ireland. Previous attempts by the Commission to introduce similar rights for part-timers have failed.
The new attempt takes place under the auspices of the Social Chapter and is ground-breaking. There may be legal difficulties in going this route. The route chosen by the Commission involved consultation with some EU Social Partners. This resulted in a framework agreement concluded by three umbrella EU unions representing public sector employees, private sector employees and employers.