16. (1) Subject to this section, the Court shall, where it considers it appropriate to do so, having heard all parties appearing to the Court to be interested and desiring to be heard, and having regard to the submissions concerned and the matters specified in subsection (2), make a recommendation to the Minister.

(2) When making a recommendation under this section, the Court shall have regard to the following matters:

(a) the potential impact on levels of employment and unemployment in the identified economic sector concerned;

(b) the terms of any relevant national agreement relating to pay and conditions for the time being in existence;

(c) the potential impact on competitiveness in the economic sector concerned;

(d) the general level of remuneration in other economic sectors in which workers of the same class, type or group are employed;

(e) that the sectoral employment order shall be binding on all workers and employers in the economic sector concerned.

(3) A recommendation under this section shall—

(a) specify the class, type or group of workers and the economic sector in relation to which the recommendation shall apply,

(b) be accompanied by a report on the circumstances surrounding the making of the recommendation, including confirmation that the Court has had regard to the matters set out in subsection (2), and

(c) be made not later than 6 weeks after a hearing under section 15.

(4) The Court shall not make a recommendation under this section unless it is satisfied that to do so—

(a) would promote harmonious relations between workers and employers and assist in the avoidance of industrial unrest in the economic sector concerned, and

(b) is reasonably necessary to—

(i) promote and preserve high standards of training and qualification, and

(ii) ensure fair and sustainable rates of remuneration,

in the economic sector concerned.

(5) A recommendation under this section may provide for all or any of the following in respect of the workers of the class, type or group in the economic sector concerned:

(a) a minimum hourly rate of basic pay that is greater than the minimum hourly rate of pay declared by order for the time being in force under the Act of 2000;

(b) not more than 2 higher hourly rates of basic pay based on—

(i) length of service in the economic sector concerned, or

(ii) the attainment of recognised standards or skills;

(c) minimum hourly rates of basic pay for persons who—

(i) have not attained the age of 18 years,

(ii) enter employment for the first time after attaining the age of 18 years,

(iii) having entered into employment before attaining the age of 18 years, continue in employment on attaining that age, or

(iv) have attained the age of 18 years and, during normal working hours, undergo a course of study or training prescribed by regulations made by the Minister under section 16 of the Act of 2000, reduced to the percentage set out in section 14, 15 or 16 of that Act for the category of worker concerned;

(d) minimum hourly rates of basic pay for apprentices;

(e) any pay in excess of basic pay in respect of shift work, piece work, overtime, unsocial hours worked, hours worked on a Sunday, or travelling time (when working away from base);

(f) the requirements of a pension scheme, including a minimum daily rate of contribution to the scheme by a worker and an employer; and

(g) the requirements of a sick pay scheme.

(6) A recommendation under this section shall include procedures that shall apply in relation to the resolution of a dispute concerning the terms of a sectoral employment order.

(7) Subject to sections 14 and 15, a recommendation under this section may provide for the amendment or cancellation of a recommendation previously made under this section and confirmed by the Minister by a sectoral employment order.

(8) In this section “apprentice” has the same meaning as it has in the Industrial Training Act 1967.