Social partnership agreements

Introduction

Social partnership is a process by which issues of social policy can be agreed between the Government and the social partners. The social partners include trade unions, employers, farming organisations, environmental organisations, and the community and voluntary sector. A list of social partners is available in ‘More about this topic’.

The Government and the social partners engage in negotiations on social policy issues that result in a social partnership agreement. The first social partnership agreement was the Programme for National Recovery (pdf) in 1987 and since then, there are been seven agreements including, Sustaining Progress (2003-2005) (pdf) and the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (2000-2003) (pdf). The most recent social partnership agreement is Towards 2016: Ten Year Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006 - 2015 (pdf).

Towards 2016 covers a wide range of policy areas. The goal of the agreement is to achieve "a dynamic, internationalised and participatory society and economy, founded on a commitment to social justice and economic development that is both environmentally sustainable and internationally competitive." The agreement deals with the economy, the environment, infrastructure and social policy. It also gives direction on pay, the workplace and employment rights.

The first phase of the agreement covered a period of 27 months. The agreement was reviewed and amended by Towards 2016: A Review and Transitional Agreement 2008 - 2009 (pdf). This transitional agreement will cover 21 months.

Lifecycle framework

The first phase of the initial Towards 2016 agreement uses a lifecycle framework to address challenges for each of four lifecycle stages.  They are children, people of working age, older people and people with disabilities.

• For children, the key areas are: early childhood development and care; issues for children and their families; income support; improving education and health; promoting recreation, sports, arts and culture. Commitments include: 50,000 new childcare places; 550 language support teachers for international students; a review of maternity/paternity leave entitlements; and the establishment of the new Irish Youth Justice Service for reform in the area of youth justice.
• For people of working age, the priority areas are: employability; access to employment and income; caring responsibilities; housing; and improving health outcomes. Agreements include: 2,000 extra places on the Back to Education Initiative; a minimum social welfare rate equating to €150 in 2002 terms; and 400 primary care services by 2009.
• For older people, the focus is on: pensions and income supports; long-term care services; housing and accommodation; ensuring mobility; ensuring quality health services; and promoting education and employment opportunities. Commitments include: €150 million for services for older people, with most of this going to community care supports; increased funding for the Rural Transport Initiative; and €2 million to prevent elder abuse.
• For people with disabilities, the focus is based on the National Disability Strategy (pdf). Key areas include: income; health and education services; measures to promote employment opportunities; accessible services in housing, public transport and information and advocacy. The strategy includes the Disability Act 2005, six sectoral plans, the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, the Citizens Information Act 2007 (pdf), and a Multi-Annual Investment Programme of €900 million for 2006-2009.

In implementing the lifecycle approach, the agreement includes a range of proposals to support the community and voluntary sector including enhanced funding and the promotion of social finance and philanthropic activity.

New Disability Plans - what they mean for you

The National Disability Strategy was launched in September 2004 and aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities in Ireland. The Disability Act 2005 and the six sectoral plans referred to above, are part of this Strategy. As part of the plans public bodies are obliged to facilitate people with disabilities to use their services. The plans also provide for changes to health, education, transport, accessibility of streets and buildings, social welfare, communications and broadcasting.  Find out what the six sectoral plans mean for you.

Pay and employment

Towards 2016 deals with employment conditions including: statutory minimum pay; partnership at the workplace; workplace learning and upskilling; pensions; equal opportunities; and work-life balance. It provides for certain measures to protect employment standards.The establishment of the Office of Director for Employment Rights Compliance with a staff of 90 labour inspectors.

The first phase of the agreement on pay provided for an increase in the minimum wage in 2007 and included agreement on pay increases for private and public sector employees. This increase was 10% and took place in four phases over 27 months. The transitional agreement for 2008 - 2009 provides for the following pay increases:

• A pay pause of 3 months from the expiry of the last phase of the first module under Towards 2016
• An increase of 3.5% for the next 6 months of the transitional agreement as it applies in each particular employment or industry
• An increase of 2.5% for the next 12 months of the transitional agreement - except for those employees on an hourly basic rate of €11 per hour or less on commencement of the second phase where a 3% increase will apply.

For private sector workers, the increases apply from the date of the expiry the first phase of Towards 2016. If an employer claims inability to pay, or if there are other disputes relating to the partnership agreement, they must follow a specified process.

Public service workers also received pay increases as part of the transitional agreement 2008 - 2009 they are as follows:

• A pay pause of 11 months from the expiry of the last phase of the first module under Towards 2016
• An increase of 3.5% from 1 September 2009
• An increase of 2.5% from 1 June 2010 - except for those earning up to and including €430.49 per week (€22,463 per annum) on commencement of the second phase where a 3% increase will apply.

The increases are linked to public service modernisation, flexibility, stable industrial relations and not taking industrial action in respect of any matters covered by the transitional agreement.

Further information