Working Conditions (Hotels and Restaurants) Convention, 1991 (No. 172) - Ireland (Ratification: 1998)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government this year, as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

The Committee notes the observations of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) received on 26 October 2018. It further notes the observations of the ICTU received on 9 October 2019, together with the Government’s report.  The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Article 3(1) of the Convention. National policy for hotel and restaurant workers. The Government indicates that, following the first review of the existing bipartite joint labour committee system (JLCs) by the Labour Court in 2013, the Dublin Hotels JLC was abolished by a Ministerial Order in January 2014. In its second review carried out in March 2018, the Court took note of the submissions of the employers’ and workers’ representatives, who expressed the unanimous view that there was no justification for maintaining the two existing JLCs for the catering sector. Thereafter, the Statutory Instrument giving effect to the amalgamation of the two catering JLCs came into force on 19 December 2018. In response to the Committee’s 2013 direct request concerning the impact of the economic and financial crisis on the hotel and restaurant sector, the Government reports on a series of legislative measures and initiatives taken to boost the hospitality sector. The Government indicates that the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018, which came into force on 4 March 2019, introduced a number of significant changes to the labour legislation, and increased protections for employees in the hospitality sector. It adds that, as of 1 January 2019, under the National Minimum Wage Order 2018, the national minimum wage for an experienced adult employee is €9.80 per hour, and that wage rates solely based on age as well as trainee rates are abolished. This provision applies equally to workers in the hospitality sector. In its supplementary information, the Government indicates that, as of 1 February 2020, under the National Minimum Wage Order 2020, the national minimum wage for an experienced adult employee is €10.10 per hour, with separate national minimum wage rates provided for young people and trainees. The Committee takes note of a series of initiatives taken by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, such as the introduction of a number of regional experience brands designed to stimulate regional tourism, for example, the Wild Atlantic Way campaign launched in January 2018. In addition, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) published a Greenways Strategy for the development and future funding of Greenways in the country, to create new sustainable employment opportunities for communities where they are located. The Government also introduced a reduced VAT rate on tourism-related services, from 13.5 to 9 per cent in 2011, which applied to the hotels sector and to restaurants and cafe services. The Committee notes with  interest  that, according to the report, partly as a result of these initiatives, hotel sector occupancy levels have recovered, job vacancies in the hotel sector increased by almost 200 per cent between 2013 and 2017, and all regions benefited from job growth. According to the Government’s report, a 2017 study commissioned by Fáilte Ireland indicated that employment in sectors where the reduced VAT rate applies increased by 38,400 since the reduced rate was implemented, attributing between 4,800 and 8,900 of these jobs to the VAT reduction. In its observations, the ICTU expresses the view that the increase in employment in the tourism sector was not entirely attributable to the reduced VAT, referring to the June 2018 review by Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners and the July 2018 report of Ireland’s Department of Finance. The ICTU also refers to some sectors where the lower rate (9 per cent) of VAT applies, despite years of a favourable VAT rate accorded to the sector during the economic crisis, as documented in the above-mentioned reports of June and July 2018. The ITUC further asserts that employers in some of these sectors refuse to engage with the JLC system and that the Government has repeatedly declined to compel them to do so.  The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated detailed information on further developments concerning the national policy for hotel and restaurant workers, and to transmit copies of any new texts, legislative or others, which may be adopted with respect to pay and employment conditions in the hotel and catering sector. Noting that separate national minimum wage rates are provided for young people and trainees, the Committee requests the Government to clarify what is the basis for the different rates, and provide information on the breakdown of the workforce, specifying the percentage of young workers.

Training and education programmes. The Government refers to the policy “People, Place and Policy: Growing Tourism to 2025”, published in March 2015, which highlights the key role of training and education in ensuring an adequate supply of skilled staff in the tourism sector, and sets out a number of policy proposals in relation to employment promotion, training initiatives and working conditions. The Committee notes that a Tourism Action Plan for the period 2019–21 was published in December 2018. Subsequently, a new Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group was established to address labour supply and skills development issues affecting the growth of tourism businesses. The Committee notes that the Group is chaired by Fáilte Ireland and its members include: industry representative bodies, education providers and state agencies.  The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the nature, content and extent of training and education programmes aimed at improving the skills of those employed in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Irish Inspection Services in the report, in relation to the activities of the Workplace Relations Commission, established in 2015. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government regarding the results of the inspections conducted on the accommodation and food service sector, the food and drink sector and the hotels sector. The Committee notes that, in 2019, inspectors concluded 4,804 workplace inspections, covering over 126,903 employees and recovering over €3.9M in unpaid wages. However, the Committee notes with concern the Government’s indication that the food and drink sector remains an area of relative high non-compliance in terms of employment law, with the main areas of non-compliance in 2019 being the failure to maintain employment records, non-payment of public holidays and employing foreign nationals without obtaining proper authorization. The Committee notes that, non-compliance rates for the food and drink sector increased from 58 per cent in 2017 to 67 per cent in 2018, compared to a 44 per cent average non-compliance rate for all sectors in 2018. It further notes that, for the period from 1 June 2019 to 31 August 2020, the non-compliance rate for the food and drink sector stood at 41 per cent, compared to a 31 per cent average non-compliance rate for all sectors. The Government indicates that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) prepares and updates health and safety advice for the catering and hospitality sector, in consultation with the Irish Hotels Federation, the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Panel of Chefs of Ireland and the Waterford IT School of Hotel Management. The Committee notes the information provided on the number of inspections and investigations carried out in the hotel and restaurant sectors by HSA Inspectors from 2013 to 20 May 2019. The Committee notes that the HSA Strategy 2016–18 targeted new and returning workers in the hotel and restaurant sector, given that these workers were at increased risk of occupational accidents.  The Committee requests the Government to continue to transmit detailed updated information on the application of the Convention in practice, in particular statistical information, disaggregated by age, sex and sector (hotels, restaurants) regarding the number of visits conducted by the labour inspectorate and the outcomes of such visits. The Committee requests the Government to indicate measures taken or envisaged to reduce the high level of non-compliance in the sector.

COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee notes that the accommodation and food services subsectors have been among the “hardest-hit” sectors following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures adopted by the Governments to contain it. In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee recalls the guidance provided by international labour standards. In this regard, the Committee wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205), which provides guidelines for the formulation and implementation of effective responses to the profound socioeconomic repercussions of the pandemic. The Committee invites the Government to provide up-to-date information in its next report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the application of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee notes the observations of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) received on 26 October 2018. It further notes the observations of the ICTU received on 9 October 2019, together with the Government’s report. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Article 3(1) of the Convention. National policy for hotel and restaurant workers. The Government indicates that, following the first review of the existing bipartite joint labour committee system (JLCs), by the Labour Court in 2013, the Dublin Hotels JLC was abolished by a Ministerial Order in January 2014. In its second review carried out in March 2018, the Court took note of the submissions of the employers’ and workers’ representatives, who expressed the unanimous view that there was no justification for maintaining the two existing JLCs for the catering sector. Thereafter, the Statutory Instrument giving effect to the amalgamation of the two catering JLCs came into force on 19 December 2018. In response to the Committee’s 2013 direct request concerning the impact of the economic and financial crisis on the hotel and restaurant sector, the Government reports on a series of legislative measures and initiatives taken to boost the hospitality sector. The Government indicates that the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018, which came into force on 4 March 2019, introduced a number of significant changes to the labour legislation, and increased protections for employees in the hospitality sector. It adds that, as of 1 January 2019, under the National Minimum Wage Order 2018, the national minimum wage for an experienced adult employee is €9.80 per hour, wage rates are solely based on age, and trainee rates are abolished. This provision applies equally to workers in the hospitality sector. The Committee takes note of a series of initiatives taken by Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, such as the introduction of a number of regional experience brands designed to stimulate regional tourism, for example, the Wild Atlantic Way campaign launched in January 2018. In addition, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) published a Greenways Strategy for the development and future funding of Greenways in the country, to create new sustainable employment opportunities for communities where they are located. The Government also introduced a reduced VAT rate on tourism-related services, from 13.5 to 9 per cent in 2011, which applied to the hotels sector and to restaurants and cafe services. The Committee notes with interest that, according to the report, partly as a result of these initiatives, hotel sector occupancy levels have recovered, job vacancies in the hotel sector increased by almost 200 per cent between 2013 and 2017, and all regions benefited from job growth. According to the Government’s report, a 2017 study commissioned by Fáilte Ireland indicated that employment in sectors where the reduced VAT rate applies increased by 38,400 since the reduced rate was implemented, attributing between 4,800 and 8,900 of these jobs to the VAT reduction. In its observations, the ICTU expresses the view that the increase in employment in the tourism sector was not entirely attributable to the reduced VAT, referring to the June 2018 review by Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners and the July 2018 report of Ireland’s Department of Finance. The ICTU also refers to some sectors where the lower rate (9 per cent) of VAT applies, despite years of a favourable VAT rate accorded to the sector during the economic crisis, as documented in the above-mentioned reports of June and July 2018. The ITUC further asserts that employers in some of these sectors refuse to engage with the JLC system and that the Government has repeatedly declined to compel them to do so. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated detailed information on further developments concerning the national policy for hotel and restaurant workers, and to transmit copies of any new texts, legislative or others, which may be adopted with respect to pay and employment conditions in the hotel and catering sector.

Training and education programmes. The Government refers to the policy “People, Place and Policy: Growing Tourism to 2025”, published in March 2015, which highlights the key role of training and education in ensuring an adequate supply of skilled staff in the tourism sector, and sets out a number of policy proposals in relation to employment promotion, training initiatives and working conditions. The Committee notes that a Tourism Action Plan for the period 2019–21 was published in December 2018. Subsequently, a new Tourism and Hospitality Careers Oversight Group was established to address labour supply and skills development issues affecting the growth of tourism businesses. The Committee notes that the Group is chaired by Fáilte Ireland and its members include: industry representative bodies, education providers and state agencies. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the nature, content and extent of training and education programmes aimed at improving the skills of those employed in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Irish Inspection Services in the report, in relation to the activities of the Workplace Relations Commission, established in 2015. In particular, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the food and drink sector remains an area of relative high non-compliance in terms of employment law, with the main areas of non-compliance being the failure to maintain employment records, non-payment of public holidays and employing foreign nationals without obtaining proper authorization. The Committee notes that, non-compliance rates for the food and drink sector increased from 58 per cent in 2017 to 67 per cent in 2018, compared to a 44 per cent average non-compliance rate for all sectors in 2018. The Government indicates that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) prepares and updates health and safety advice for the catering and hospitality sector, in consultation with the Irish Hotels Federation, the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Panel of Chefs of Ireland and the Waterford IT School of Hotel Management. The Committee notes the information provided on the number of inspections and investigations carried out in the hotel and restaurant sectors by HSA Inspectors from 2013 to 20 May 2019. The Committee notes that the HSA Strategy 2016–18 targeted new and returning workers in the hotel and restaurant sector, given that these workers were at increased risk of occupational accidents. The Committee requests the Government to continue to transmit detailed updated information on the application of the Convention in practice, in particular statistical information, disaggregated by age, sex and sector (hotels, restaurants) regarding the number of visits conducted by the labour inspectorate and the outcomes of such visits. The Committee requests the Government to indicate measures taken or envisaged to reduce the high level of non-compliance in the sector.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Article 3(1) of the Convention. National policy for hotel and restaurant workers. The Committee notes the Government’s indications concerning the judgment of the High Court of 7 July 2011 that struck down as unconstitutional all 17 employment regulation orders, including those applicable to hotel and catering workers. It also notes that following this judgment, the Government adopted the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2012 which provides for a new system for statutory wage setting and which mandates the Labour Court to review the ten existing joint labour committees (JLCs) – bipartite bodies that previously determined minimum rates of pay and conditions of work for workers in certain sectors. The Government indicates that the Labour Court completed the review of the JLCs, including the three JLCs for the hotel and catering sector, in 2013 and submitted its report to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for consideration. The Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any further developments in this regard, and to transmit copies of any new texts, legislative or others, which may be adopted with respect to pay and employment conditions in the hotel and catering sector.

In addition, the Committee understands that the economic and financial crisis has significantly affected the hotel and restaurant sector. According to statistical information published in 2012 by the European Industrial Relations Observatory, in the hotel sector occupancy levels reached a 15 year low in 2008 and employment levels dropped by about 18,000 in the period 2007–10, thus putting pressure on pay rates, premiums and terms and conditions set down in sectoral wage mechanisms. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the impact of the crisis on the hotel and catering industry, the key challenges and trends and any targeted measures aimed at limiting job losses and the deterioration of employment conditions.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Article 2 of the Convention. Exclusion possibilities. The Committee notes the Government’s explanations concerning certain categories of hotel and catering sector employees who are currently excluded from the scope of applicable Employment Regulation Orders. While noting that those excluded categories continue to be covered by the general labour legislation, including the national minimum wage, the Committee recalls that the Convention seeks to protect all workers concerned, irrespective of the nature and duration of their employment relationship, and accordingly requests the Government to consider the possibility of extending the coverage of the relevant Hotels and Catering Employment Regulation Orders to the categories of workers currently excluded.

Article 3(1). National policy. Further to its previous comment, the Committee notes that the first Employment Regulation Order for the catering sector applicable to the County Borough of Dublin became effective in 2003, whereas no Employment Regulation Order has been made for the hotel sector for the Dublin area as the Hotel Joint Labour Committee has not yet made proposals to the Labour Court. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any new developments in this regard and to transmit a copy of the Employment Regulation Order once it has been issued.

Moreover, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the ongoing implementation of the human resources development strategy for Irish tourism which was launched by Fáilte Ireland in 2005. It also notes the various training programmes for skills improvement and career enhancement offered by Fáilte Ireland in 2007 to people and businesses operating in the tourism sector. The Committee would appreciate if the Government would continue to provide detailed particulars on legislative measures, policy initiatives and projects designed to improve the working conditions in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry and the results obtained.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government according to which there are currently 128,600 persons employed in the hotel and catering sector. It also notes the data provided by the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) concerning the number of inspection visits conducted and breaches detected during a period 2004–08. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide information on the practical application of the Convention, including, for instance, statistics on the number of workers covered by the relevant EROs, copies of applicable collective agreements, extracts from reports of the labour inspection services showing the number and nature of contraventions observed, official reports or surveys concerning the employment situation and difficulties experienced in the hotel and catering sector, etc.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Exclusion possibilities. The Committee notes that both the Employment Regulation Order (Hotels Joint Labour Committee), 2002, and the Employment Regulation Order (Catering Joint Labour Committee), 2002, exclude from their scope of application the following: (a) managers, assistant managers and trainee managers; (b) workers covered by the provisions of an employment regulation order made upon the proposals of another joint labour committee; and (c) workers affected by a registered employment agreement. Furthermore, the Order for hotel employees also excludes receptionists, head storemen and housekeepers. The Government is requested to indicate in its next report the reasons for the exclusion of certain categories of workers, such as trainee managers, receptionists and head storemen, the law applicable to these categories, and any progress towards wider application, as required under this Article of the Convention.

Article 3, paragraph 1. National policy. The Committee notes that the statutory minimum wages and conditions of employment for employees in the hotel and catering sector are regulated through employment regulation orders such as the Employment Regulation Order (Hotels Joint Labour Committee), 2002, effective from 1 May 2002, and the Employment Regulation Order (Catering Joint Labour Committee), 2002, effective from 22 October 2002, which fix rates of pay and lay down conditions of employment relating to such areas as holidays, working hours, overtime, Sunday work, breaks, board and lodging, and service charge. These orders are issued, on a more or less annual basis, by the Labour Court following the recommendations of the relevant joint labour committees, i.e. the Hotels Joint Labour Committee and the Catering Joint Labour Committee, which were established in 1965 and 1977 respectively by virtue of Labour Court orders. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that there are separate hotels and catering joint labour committees for the County Borough of Dublin and the Borough of Dun Laoghaire but these committees have not yet drawn up an employment regulation order. It requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any progress made in this respect and to transmit a copy of any relevant employment regulation order as soon as it is finalized. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would continue supplying information on the measures taken or envisaged to further improve the working conditions in hotels, restaurants and similar establishments. It would particularly welcome information on existing national training schemes and programmes designed to improve the skills and enhance the career prospects of those employed in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry.

Article 7. Sale and purchase of employment. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure the application of the prohibition contained in this Article of the Convention.

Article 8. Means of application. The Committee understands that apart from the system of joint labour committees and employment regulation orders, the minimum rates of pay and employment conditions for hotel and catering employees are also regulated through collective bargaining. The Committee would therefore appreciate receiving additional information on the types, number and coverage of collective agreements applicable to workers covered by the provisions of the Convention. The Government is also requested to transmit copies of any such agreements.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. In the absence of any information on this point, the Committee asks the Government to supply in its next report up to date information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance statistics on the number of workers employed in the hotel, restaurants and catering industry, labour inspection results, difficulties encountered in the enforcement of relevant legislation, extracts from official reports and recent surveys addressing questions related to the employment conditions in the tourism sector in general and any other particulars bearing on the effect given to the requirements of the Convention in national law and practice.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes that both the Employment Regulation Order (Hotels Joint Labour Committee), 2002, and the Employment Regulation Order (Catering Joint Labour Committee), 2002, exclude from their scope of application the following: (a) managers, assistant managers and trainee managers; (b) workers covered by the provisions of an employment regulation order made upon the proposals of another joint labour committee; (c) workers affected by a registered employment agreement. Furthermore, the Order for hotel employees also excludes receptionists, head storemen and housekeepers. The Government is requested to indicate in its next report the reasons for the exclusion of certain categories of workers, such as trainee managers, receptionists and head storemen, the law applicable to these categories, and any progress towards wider application, as required under this Article of the Convention.

Article 3, paragraph 1. The Committee notes that the statutory minimum wages and conditions of employment for employees in the hotel and catering sector are regulated through employment regulation orders such as the Employment Regulation Order (Hotels Joint Labour Committee), 2002, effective from 1 May 2002, and the Employment Regulation Order (Catering Joint Labour Committee), 2002, effective from 22 October 2002, which fix rates of pay and lay down conditions of employment relating to such areas as holidays, working hours, overtime, Sunday work, breaks, board and lodging, and service charge. These orders are issued, on a more or less annual basis, by the Labour Court following the recommendations of the relevant joint labour committees, i.e. the Hotels Joint Labour Committee and the Catering Joint Labour Committee, which were established in 1965 and 1977 respectively by virtue of Labour Court orders. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that there are separate hotels and catering joint labour committees for the County Borough of Dublin and the Borough of Dun Laoghaire but these committees have not yet drawn up an employment regulation order. It requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any progress made in this respect and to transmit a copy of any relevant employment regulation order as soon as it is finalized. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information on the measures taken or envisaged to further improve the working conditions in hotels, restaurants and similar establishments. It would particularly welcome information on existing national training schemes and programmes designed to improve the skills and enhance the career prospects of those employed in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry.

Article 7. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure the application of the prohibition contained in this Article of the Convention.

Article 8. The Committee understands that apart from the system of joint labour committees and employment regulation orders, the minimum rates of pay and employment conditions for hotel and catering employees are also regulated through collective bargaining. The Committee would therefore appreciate receiving additional information on the types, number and coverage of collective agreements applicable to workers covered by the provisions of the Convention. The Government is also requested to transmit copies of any such agreements.

Part V of the report form. In the absence of any information on this point, the Committee asks the Government to supply in its next report up to date information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance statistics on the number of workers employed in the hotel, restaurants and catering industry, labour inspection results, difficulties encountered in the enforcement of relevant legislation, extracts from official reports and recent surveys addressing questions related to the employment conditions in the tourism sector in general and any other particulars bearing on the effect given to the requirements of the Convention in national law and practice.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

The Committee notes with interest the Government‘s first report and accompanying material.

Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes that both the Employment Regulation Order (Hotels Joint Labour Committee), 2002, and the Employment Regulation Order (Catering Joint Labour Committee), 2002, exclude from their scope of application the following: (a) managers, assistant managers and trainee managers; (b) workers covered by the provisions of an employment regulation order made upon the proposals of another joint labour committee; (c) workers affected by a registered employment agreement. Furthermore, the Order for hotel employees also excludes receptionists, head storemen and housekeepers. The Government is requested to indicate in its next report the reasons for the exclusion of certain categories of workers, such as trainee managers, receptionists and head storemen, the law applicable to these categories, and any progress towards wider application, as required under this Article of the Convention.

Article 3, paragraph 1. The Committee notes that the statutory minimum wages and conditions of employment for employees in the hotel and catering sector are regulated through employment regulation orders such as the Employment Regulation Order (Hotels Joint Labour Committee), 2002, effective from 1 May 2002, and the Employment Regulation Order (Catering Joint Labour Committee), 2002, effective from 22 October 2002, which fix rates of pay and lay down conditions of employment relating to such areas as holidays, working hours, overtime, Sunday work, breaks, board and lodging, and service charge. These orders are issued, on a more or less annual basis, by the Labour Court following the recommendations of the relevant joint labour committees, i.e. the Hotels Joint Labour Committee and the Catering Joint Labour Committee, which were established in 1965 and 1977 respectively by virtue of Labour Court orders. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that there are separate hotels and catering joint labour committees for the County Borough of Dublin and the Borough of Dun Laoghaire but these committees have not yet drawn up an employment regulation order. It requests the Government to keep it informed of any progress made in this respect and to transmit a copy of any relevant employment regulation order as soon as it is finalized. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information on the measures taken or envisaged to further improve the working conditions in hotels, restaurants and similar establishments. It would particularly welcome information on existing national training schemes and programmes designed to improve the skills and enhance the career prospects of those employed in the hotel, restaurant and catering industry.

Article 7. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure the application of the prohibition contained in this Article of the Convention.

Article 8. The Committee understands that apart from the system of joint labour committees and employment regulation orders, the minimum rates of pay and employment conditions for hotel and catering employees are also regulated through collective bargaining. The Committee would therefore appreciate receiving additional information on the types, number and coverage of collective agreements applicable to workers covered by the provisions of the Convention. The Government is also requested to transmit copies of any such agreements.

Point V of the report form. In the absence of any information on this point, the Committee asks the Government to supply in its next report up-to-date information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance statistics on the number of workers employed in the hotel, restaurants and catering industry, labour inspection results, difficulties encountered in the enforcement of relevant legislation, extracts from official reports and recent surveys addressing questions related to the employment conditions in the tourism sector in general and any other particulars bearing on the effect given to the requirements of the Convention in national law and practice.