In 1993, the Labour Court recommended that Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Limited and the Dublin Printing Group Of Unions negotiate without prior conditions on a possible local pay increase under Clause 3 of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. The Court said negotiations could consider some or all of the 3% increase in return for cost savings or productivity improvements, while taking account of competitiveness, flexibility and change. The company employed 750 workers. The recommendation was signed on 15 March 1993.