[Ireland] ICTU calls for €2 minimum wage rise

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called for Ireland’s national minimum wage to be increased by €2 in January 2024, taking the hourly rate to €13.30, RTÉ reports.

In a submission to the Low Pay Commission, ICTU said an increase at this level would go a considerable distance to providing a decent standard of living for low-paid workers.

In addition, ICTU is reportedly calling for the minimum wage to increase by another €2 in January 2025.

"Low-paid workers on the national minimum wage are hurting disproportionately in this cost of living crisis," ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy said.

"We also believe that reductions to the minimum wage on age grounds are ill-judged and outdated. It is wrong that we pay adults a percentage of the national minimum wage," Mr Reidy added.

In 2022 the Irish Government announced plans to replace the minimum wage with a new national 'living wage' by 2026.

The living wage will reportedly be phased in over a four-year period starting this year and will be set at 60 per cent of the hourly median wage.

In 2023, it is estimated that 60 per cent of median earnings would equate to approximately €13.10 per hour.

The minimum wage was increased by 80c on January 1, 2023, to €11.30 per hour.

The rise will be followed by gradual increases until the minimum wage reaches 60 per cent of hourly median earnings.

ICTU reportedly said it welcomed the fact that the Government is committed to moving to a national living wage, however, it stated that this needs to happen sooner.

In an interview on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Reidy said the sky did not fall in when the minimum wage was introduced in Ireland despite opposition to the move.

He said, "I think work has to pay, We have a minimum wage, it needs to be more meaningful and we can't disrespect 18 and 19-year-olds and treat them like children. They don't even get the full minimum wage, they get 80 and 90% of it, so we really need a good look at this."

Mr Reidy reportedly added that many countries - including Germany, Belgium and Spain - don’t discriminate against young workers.

Source: RTÉ

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has called for Ireland’s national minimum wage to be increased by €2 in January 2024, taking the hourly rate to €13.30, RTÉ reports.

In a submission to the Low Pay Commission, ICTU said an increase at this level would go a considerable distance to providing a decent standard of living for low-paid workers.

In addition, ICTU is reportedly calling for the minimum wage to increase by another €2 in January 2025.

"Low-paid workers on the national minimum wage are hurting disproportionately in this cost of living crisis," ICTU General Secretary Owen Reidy said.

"We also believe that reductions to the minimum wage on age grounds are ill-judged and outdated. It is wrong that we pay adults a percentage of the national minimum wage," Mr Reidy added.

In 2022 the Irish Government announced plans to replace the minimum wage with a new national 'living wage' by 2026.

The living wage will reportedly be phased in over a four-year period starting this year and will be set at 60 per cent of the hourly median wage.

In 2023, it is estimated that 60 per cent of median earnings would equate to approximately €13.10 per hour.

The minimum wage was increased by 80c on January 1, 2023, to €11.30 per hour.

The rise will be followed by gradual increases until the minimum wage reaches 60 per cent of hourly median earnings.

ICTU reportedly said it welcomed the fact that the Government is committed to moving to a national living wage, however, it stated that this needs to happen sooner.

In an interview on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Reidy said the sky did not fall in when the minimum wage was introduced in Ireland despite opposition to the move.

He said, "I think work has to pay, We have a minimum wage, it needs to be more meaningful and we can't disrespect 18 and 19-year-olds and treat them like children. They don't even get the full minimum wage, they get 80 and 90% of it, so we really need a good look at this."

Mr Reidy reportedly added that many countries - including Germany, Belgium and Spain - don’t discriminate against young workers.

Source: RTÉ

(Link and quotes via original reporting)