Ireland’s minimum wage will increase by 30 cent from January 2018 to €9.55.
Recommended by Ireland’s Low Pay Commission the announcement was made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, TD, and Minister Finian McGrath
The Taoseach said: “This would be a modest increase but it’s ahead of the rate of inflation and average increases in earnings.” It would be the fourth increase in the minimum wage since 2011, the second under this Government, and a further step towards the Programme for Government commitment for a minimum wage of €10.50 euro, he added.
Senator Ged Nash, Labour spokesperson on Worker’s Rights welcomed the rise but said more needs to be done.
Senator Nash said: “While modest, the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation to increase the rate by 30 cent an hour to €9.55 is a welcome but very small step in the right direction. “Frankly, this government has a lot to be modest about when it comes to delivering on its own promise that work should pay. “With a miserly 10 cent increase last year and a modest 30 cent recommended for next year, the Fine Gael-Independent Alliance government is making extremely heavy weather of their pledge to hike the minimum wage rate to €10.50 per hour.
“Even when combined, the two increases over which they have presided still falls short of the 50 cent increase we managed in a single year and on foot of the first Low Pay Commission report which was published this time two years ago.
Ireland’s living wage was increased to €11.70 per hour just two weeks ago, this is not legally binding and some workers will only get the minimum wage of €9.25. However some companies agree to pay workers the living wage
The principle of a living wage is intended to establish an hourly wage rate that should provide employees with sufficient income to achieve an agreed acceptable minimum standard of living. It is an income floor, representing a figure which allows employees afford the essentials of life. Earnings below the living wage suggest employees are forced to do without certain essentials so they can make ends-meet.
