Danny Healy-Rae Warns Labour Pay Proposal Will Harm Small Employers
Danny Healy-Rae criticised a Labour Party pay proposal as a "very grand, popular, populist idea" and argued that while employees deserve support, the cost would fall on already-struggling small employers. He warned that COVID-related rules, reduced trade and rising costs leave small businesses with little cashflow to meet payroll.
Small employers under pressure
Small employers are, he said, under fierce pressure in his county and are the primary employers in many communities. He noted there is no local resource windfall to draw on, and listed general rules and regulations, insurance and costs, and the added costs of COVID rules as major burdens.
Immediate cashflow concerns
He emphasised that many small employers are struggling to have the cash to pay employees each payday, pointing to reduced income and slower business at present. He argued that supports should consider the speed with which payroll comes around and the practical realities of small-business cashflow.
Balancing support for employees and employers
While saying he did not begrudge employees anything they deserve, he urged policymakers to also think about employers and to work hand in hand with them. He framed the issue as helping employers so they can continue to pay employees.
Pensions and social-care shortfalls
He reminded Deputy Kelly of cuts to women's pensions in 2012 and called for those pensions to be restored. He also raised gaps in home help and carers, noting the need for a few extra minutes of support and expressing concern about time pressures in care provision.
Parliamentary tone and interruptions
He began by thanking Les Crancola and repeatedly returned to practical concerns for small businesses and carers. His remarks concluded with fragmented references to other deputies, reflecting a forceful but at times interrupted parliamentary contribution.
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Thank you very much, Les Crancola. Of course this is a very grand, popular, populist idea by the Labour Party and I don't begrudge employees anything that we can give them because they certainly deserve as much effort as we can. But where is the money going to come from? I mean small employers and I have to register the fact that I am a small employer myself. Small employers are under fierce pressure and in our county we depend on small employers to a greater degree that's who we have employing people. And we don't have oil or we don't have gold or diamonds and if we did we wouldn't be allowed to drill for them anyway. Small employers are bad enough barely struggling and are already struggling with rules and regulations, general rules and regulations, insurance and costs. Costs of COVID rules and regulations want to remind of the reduced income and trade that most employers have at the present time. And many small employers struggle to have the cash to pay their employees on Friday and payday comes around very quickly. And trade and business is so much slower at the present time. As well as the employees we must start thinking and talk about employers as well and especially the small employers. And we must do as much as possible as possible to help those because they are in turn the people that are paying the employees. So it works. We have to work hand in hand with them as well. And like there are so many things that are missing and people don't have at this time. Home help, a few extra minutes, carers and then because I have already very shut time. I want to remind you Deputy Kelly. To see cut the women's pensions back in 2012. By a thud. Thank you. He should be looking for, to restore that and restore the harem and repair the harem that he's done already. Deputy Mike... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some... Some...
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