Efling Union has sent a letter to the Directorate of Labour regarding the so-called collective agreement between SVEIT, an association of companies in the catering market, and the pseudo-union Virðingar.
The letter, addressed to Unnur Sverrisdóttir, Director General of the Directorate of Labour, states that Efling has examined the collective agreement and believes it to be inconsistent with the law and minimum terms in the labour market. Efling points out that the agreement is incompatible with the articles of the Act on the Terms of Employment of Employees and Compulsory Pension Insurance, and the Act on Trade Unions and Industrial Disputes.
There are also provisions in the collective agreement that may be contrary to various laws or do not meet their requirements. These include provisions of the Act on the 40-hour workweek, provisions of the Act on Holidays, provisions of the Act on Equal Treatment in the Labour Market, and the principle of non-discrimination in the Constitution, among others.
Efling’s submission then sets out other arguments that Efling has been raising in recent days in its criticism of the so-called collective agreement.
Efling’s submission is sent to the Directorate of Labour since the role of the agency is, among other things, to assist individuals in their job search, and the agency has a role in issuing work permits. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that, according to law, it is a general condition of a work permit that foreigners are guaranteed wages and other working conditions equal to those of locals, per applicable law and collective agreements.
“For this reason and with reference to all of the above, Efling requests that the Directorate of Labour take appropriate action and supervision, in accordance with the agency’s authorities, to ensure the rights of the workers concerned. For this purpose, Efling provides the Directorate with the membership list of the Association of Companies in the Catering Market from September 11, 2023,” says Efling’s report, signed by chairwoman Sólveig Anna Jónsdóttir.