Minister of Labour Colin Jordan has warned that his ministry will be taking legal action against employers who continue exploitative practices.
He issued the caution in Parliament on Tuesday during the debate on the National Policy on Ageing, as he called on employers to treat older workers with dignity and humanity, criticising those who force retirement before the pensionable age of 67.
Jordan noted that some organisations have not adjusted their policies despite the pensionable age moving from 65 to 67.
“That is unconscionable,” Jordan said, urging employers to consider the humanity of their workers even if written contracts stipulate retirement at age 65.
He pleaded with employers not to force employees to apply for reduced pensions early: “Have at least a little bit of conscience. Express some level of humanity. Do not force persons who have toiled in your vineyards to apply to the National Insurance and Social Security Service for a reduced pension.”
Jordan also again highlighted another troubling practice where employers misclassify workers as self-employed to avoid paying National Insurance contributions.
“We have some other employing organisations who, in their crass attempt to reduce their costs, engage workers as self-employed with the view of reducing their costs,” he said. “So though [the workers] may have enjoyed the benefits of not having National Insurance deducted, they reach their evening years and recognise that they do not have the contributions at National Insurance that would allow them to receive a decent old age pension.”
The Labour Minister insisted that employers have a moral responsibility to their workers: “When we’re dealing with human beings, sometimes we have to look past the legal responsibilities…. We are not dealing with land… machinery… [nor] technology.”
Jordan announced that his ministry will use its resources to bring wayward employers to justice.
“The Ministry of Labour made a decision yesterday that we are going to be engaging in the law court a lot more than we have been before…. We will be addressing these issues within the confines and constraints of our resources,” he said.
Jordan also called on workplaces to accommodate new mothers by providing facilities to express and safely store breast milk.
“We believe that if we are to take care of our people throughout the life cycle, those things that predispose persons to be healthy at later stages in their life must be encouraged,” he said.
