Sir - Drapier refers (March 4th) to the Dail debate on the introduction of the National Minimum Wage Bill and the "glaring loopholes" contained in the legislation - the inclusion of premia for weekend work, earnings from working on public holidays and tips received by employees in calculating the hourly rate of £4.40.
Drapier says: "It speaks volumes about the focus of today's trade unions that, having failed to budge Harney on the £4.40 rate, they were prepared to overlook such glaring loopholes". Drapier is not fully informed.
This union, during the recent negotiations on the Partnership for Prosperity and Fairness, expressed its extreme disappointment that the Government had failed to move the rate from the historic figure of £4.40 which was calculated in 1997. We have consistently argued for a more realistic minimum wage rate designed to benefit the lower paid in particular.
Furthermore, at the time of the Bill's publication, Mandate publicly argued that a number of "structural issues" in the legislation would have to be addressed before the Bill became law. Since then, we have been extremely vigorous and pro-active in advancing our case to have these issues addressed. Mandate and ICTU have raised them on several occasions in discussions with the Tanaiste and officials at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Arising from these discussions, we now have a clear understanding with the Government. We expect our concerns will be addressed through a further series of amendments to the National Minimum Wage Bill at Committee stage in the Oireachtas. - Yours etc.
John Douglas, Deputy General Secretary, Mandate, Cavendish Row Dublin 8.