In 1993, the Labour Court recommended further talks on a phased sick-pay scheme for part-time workers in Galway Distributive Trades. The recommendation, signed on 29 March 1993, followed a claim by the Irish Distributive and Administrative Trade Union. The Court recommended that the parties discuss a suitable scheme with safeguards against abuse, phased in over three years and reviewed annually. The union argued that part-time workers should receive sick-pay terms on a pro-rata basis to those for full-time staff. Employers said the proposed scheme would be costly and could encourage short absences.