Restrictive Employment Legislation must be avoided if Unemployment Rate is to fall further

The unemployment figures released today by the CSO (05/01/16) shows that the trend of an ongoing reduction in the rate of unemployment has stalled.

Commenting on today’s unemployment figures, Mark O’Mahoney, Director of Policy and Communications, Chambers Ireland, said, “The general trend of an ongoing reduction in the unemployment rate throughout 2015 is hugely positive, however there is some cause for concern in that this steady reduction in unemployment appears to be levelling off, with the rate stabilising at 8.8% for November and December.”   

“Businesses with the potential to hire in 2016 need certainty from Government that increasing their workforce in the coming months will be both affordable and sustainable in the longer term. There are a number of proposed changes to employment legislation currently being considered by Government and with ongoing rhetoric around further increases to statutory minimum wage rates, hiring new staff becomes a risky proposition for many businesses. Now is not the time to introduce unnecessarily restrictive employment regulation or higher statutory wage rates.”

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For further information contact Susan McDermott, Chambers Ireland on 01 400 4331, 086 6081605 or email susan.mcdermott@www.chambers.ie. 

 Chambers Ireland – Ireland’s largest business network creating the best environment for members locally, regionally and nationally.