Stagg welcomes passing of bill that helps secure rights for self-employed workers

Kildare North Labour Representative Emmet Stagg has welcomed the passing in the Seanad on November 10th of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 which brings us one step closer to securing rights for freelance workers.

The Bill is based on a former Bill published by Emmet Stagg in 2012, the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2012, and a Bill published by our current President, Michael D Higgins in 2006, the Competition (Trade Union Membership) Bill, 2006.

"The Bill stems from a longstanding Labour Party commitment to ensure protection of the right to collectively bargain for freelance workers, including journalists, actors, musicians and others who perform their work on a self-employed or contract for services basis. Under current competition Law, self-employed persons who combine with others to set prices for their services can be accused of an illegal anti-competitive practice," stated Mr Stagg.

The Bill will allow self-employed workers such as actors and journalists, who personally provide work or perform services, to collectively bargain with their employers. The end result will be better pay and conditions and living standards for such workers.

In conclusion, MrStagg congratulated his Labour colleagues in the Seanad on securing passage of the Bill through the Seanad and stated that the Bill must now go through the Dail and he was hopeful that by the middle of 2017 these important reforms will be in force.