Minimum wage recommendations will erode competitiveness, says Chambers Ireland

Chambers Ireland has expressed concern at recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission that 70,000 workers on the national minimum wage should receive a rise of 10 cent per hour – bringing the hourly rate from €9.15 to €9.25 an hour.

Following the publication of the Low Pay Commission Report, Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, said: “The recommendation to increase the national minimum wage by 10 per cent to €9.25, particularly following a 6 per cent increase already this year, does not reflect the realities of the trading conditions facing Irish businesses post-Brexit.

“Locking in another increase to the national minimum wage at a time of such uncertainty around the future performance of our economy will put more pressure on our business community and further erode our competitiveness. At this point in our recovery, any increase in the national minimum wage is unwarranted.”