False Imprisonment!
A specific number of 21,633 direct jobs have been created in the accommodation and food services sector since the VAT reduction in July 2011 apparently.
But some people still aren’t happy.
John King of SIPTU writes:
SIPTU has called on the Government to commit to removing the preferential VAT rate currently enjoyed by the profitable hotel and restaurant sector that includes many businesses that are exploiting low paid workers.
According to new figures released this week the hospitality sector is booming. A new independent survey by accountancy firm Crowe Horwath indicates that the average profit on each hotel room in Ireland grew from €7,347 in 2013 to €9,201 in 2014. The Government introduced a 9% VAT rate for this sector in 2011. This has enabled increased profits.
This situation needs to be tackled now, otherwise the Government’s entire strategy on protecting low paid workers is in real danger of being undermined
Fight!
SIPTU calls on Government to end VAT benefit for hospitality sector (SIPTU)
Fáilte Ireland welcomes retention of ‘Job-Friendly’ VAT rate
Hotel rates and occupancy rose in 2014 (RTÉ News)
SIPTU basically aren’t getting enough cheques from the hospitality sector so they want to ruin another industry by making it unbelievably overpriced to run so they can collect a few more fat cheques.
+125000 euros a year
They have a strategy to protect low paid workers… well, I, never….
This is exciting news indeed. When did this strategy begin, and what has been done in the drive to protect the low-paid?
Nostalgic tears in my eyes as I remember being a casual worker in the 1980s, when the first company you worked for in a week was required to pay your ‘stamp’, when casuals had the right to holiday pay and sick pay at parity with staffers, when overtime was paid at one-and-a-half time and Sundays and bank holidays at double time, and Christmas and Stephens’ Day at triple time…
Ah, those jangling, note-stuffed pay envelopes… happy days…
What am I missing?
All I see is someone saying,
‘These people are notorious for treating their staff badly, why are they getting a reduction in their VAT?’
Then I read the comments.
You people really don’t like Unions, do you?
Have 2 rates ;a higher one for employers who have zero hour contracted and below minimum wage staff and a lower one for those that pay fairly
Simples
Businesses are making a profilt………SIPTU call for government to intervene……..say’s it all really.
You all supported the Dunnes workers.
You can’t have it both ways.
Get out of here with your logic!
I am pro-Union by default unless a particular issue directs me otherwise, but I can’t see the relationship between VAT rates on profits and workers’ rights.
@John E. Bravo
It’s not that difficult.
When you consider that those profits were accumulated directly from policies of paying staff as little as possible, not to mention treating them like cattle*,
-WHY do they get a preferential rate of VAT?
It’s a valid question.
It’s a question I’d expect any decent Union to be asking.
It’s about time.
Personally, I welcome any attention that’s drawn to the issue.
I don’t care what the source is.
*treating them like cattle©
Wait a minute.
I’m starting to understand the cynicism now.
Of course the Union is trying to drum up business/membership/attention…
-The cheek of them. Unions aren’t allowed to do that.
Yes, they might be bringing attention to worker exploitation.
-The cheek of them. Unions aren’t allowed to do that.
Other people getting away with stuff?
-The cheek of them. Unions aren’t allowed to do that, but they do, don’t they?
Support Low-Paid workers is all I’m sayin’.
Everybody wanna have a gud time.
the 9 percent applies to coffee shops, hairdressers and trips to the pictures (and yes I do sneak in my Big Mac meal at 9 percent)
We can all see that. It’s time to lay off them now. And run.