George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

41. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline his plans to achieve a living wage for workers in Ireland. [6715/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government includes the commitment that this Government will recognise the work of the independent Low Pay Commission, ensuring fair wages whilst also supporting the viability of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Government is committed to ensuring a balance between a fair and sustainable rate for low paid workers, and one that will not have significant negative consequences for employers and competitiveness.

As the Deputy will be aware, in 2021 the Low Pay Commission was asked to examine the previous Programme for Government commitment to progress to a living wage and provide recommendations on how best to achieve this commitment.

The Low Pay Commission’s recommendations were received and considered and in November 2022, the previous Government agreed that a national living wage would be introduced and set at 60% of hourly median wages, in line with the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission. This would be achieved by incremental adjustment to the National Minimum Wage.

The first step towards reaching a Living Wage was the 80 cent increase to the national minimum wage from 1^st January 2023 to €11.30 per hour. This was followed with the significant 12.4% increase of €1.40 to the national minimum wage which came into force on 1^st January 2024 and increased the minimum wage to €12.70 per hour. On the 1^st of January 2025, the minimum wage was further increased by 80 cent to €13.50 per hour.

These substantial increases show Government’s continuing commitment to fair and sustainable wages for the lowest paid workers in our economy. This Government will continue to recognise the work of the independent Low Pay Commission.