Collective Bargaining Agreement Food and Allied Industries Sugar Refining Sub-sector Undertaking

Published under section 80 of the Labour Act, this collective bargaining agreement amends the sugar refining sub-sector agreement in S.I. 335 of 1996. It is made between the Employers' Association of the Sugar Refining Industry and the Sugar Refining Industry Workers' Union in the National Employment Council for the Food and Allied Industries, and becomes effective and binding from the date of gazetting until further notice.

It applies to every employer in the sugar refining industry and every employee engaged in an occupation listed in the First Schedule. Neither side may waive any provision, whether it creates a benefit or an obligation, and each provision stands independently — if one is found ultra vires the rest of the agreement survives.

On grading and pay, an employee required to work in a lower grade than usual keeps the wage for their normal grade. One required to work in a higher grade is paid that grade's minimum wage for the hours worked in it, or 12 per cent above their current wage, whichever is higher — provided they have worked ten consecutive days or an aggregate of 14 days in the month. After three months in an acting capacity, the employee must be confirmed in the higher grade or returned to their previous work.

Where an operation is not listed in the First Schedule, the employer places the employee provisionally, notifies the council secretary immediately, and the secretary — after consulting the council chairman — sets an interim classification subject to ratification at the council's next meeting.

The instrument runs to many pages of conditions of service; this summary is drawn from its opening and grading provisions, and the wage schedules and remaining conditions should be read in the agreement itself.