The Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016, which aims to relieve collective agreements negotiated by freelance worker organizations from competition rules is about to pass the Seanad (Senate house). Currently such agreements are considered as understandings and as such are illegal. The SIPTU union is confident that bill will be passed especially since the Government did not oppose examination of the text. Even if journalists, artists, musicians, etc. are in the frontline to benefit from the reform, the senators who put forward the bill are clearly placing it against the future development of this form of employment.
The Labour party sponsored bill that was introduced to the Seanad at the start of 2016 aims to gain recognition for the right to unionize freelance workers, which are not treated as ‘businesses’ in terms of competition law. Nevertheless any setting of tariffs that runs contrary to the consumer’s interest will remain illegal. The reform allows for the Irish Competition Authority’s decision made fourteen years ago to be overturned. The decision considered agreements on minimum tariffs negotiated
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