The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) met with Opposition parties in May to discuss concerns about what the union described as “the Government’s continued erosion of workers’ rights”.
The cross-party meeting on 15 May saw a senior team of union leaders, led by Congress General Secretary Owen Reidy, meet with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD, Social Democrat Acting Leader Cian O’Callaghan TD, and Labour Party Leader Ivana Bacik TD.
In April, the Government announced that it would delay the introduction of a living wage until 2029, alongside postponements to the abolition of sub-minimum youth rates, extension of sick pay, and the introduction of pension auto-enrolment. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has re-iterated that any further backsliding on workers’ rights could result in industrial unrest and urged Opposition parties to support workers amidst economic turbulence.
Congress General Secretary Owen Reidy said they were pleased to meet with Opposition leaders and share the clear message from union members and low paid workers nationwide. “By breaking their promises, and rowing back on basic protections, the Government has plunged thousands of low paid workers into economic uncertainty,” he noted.
“Global economic turbulence should not be used as an excuse to short-change workers, and I was heartened to hear strong support for those workers from across the Opposition. We believe that political pressure is critical in ensuring Government lives up to its commitments, and I look forward to working closely with all parties to make this happen.”
“Global economic turbulence should not be used as an excuse to short-change workers” – Owen Reidy, ICTU General Secretary
Recent Eurostat data revealed that Ireland has one of the lowest average hourly labour costs (wages plus employer PRSI) in Western Europe, and remain below those of many other EU countries like Germany, Austria, and Finland. The lowest hourly labour costs are typically found in Eastern Europe.
The value of the minimum wage relative to wages in the economy has been allowed to plummet over the years. In the seven years prior to commencing the agreed four-year roadmap to turn the minimum wage into an adequate living wage it increased by a meagre €1.95 (2016-2022).
Ireland is one of only two EU member states to pay young adults a sub-minimum wage. Prior to 2023, Ireland was one of only three EU member states not to require employers to continue to pay their employee’s wage for a set period if they were too sick or ill to work. At five days, we now have the stingiest statutory sick pay scheme in the EU.
Ireland is the only country in the OECD not to have a mandatory employer pension contribution. The minimum salary requirements for general employment permits had not increased for almost a decade. The multi-year pay restoration roadmap was paused after the first round of increases, following intense lobbying from business interest groups.
