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The Low Pay Commission is recommending an increase in the national minimum wage of 30 cents to €9.55 per hour.

In its report to the Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald the Commission sets out the range of data it has considered in recommending the increase, including risks to the economy and international comparative research.

Speaking after Cabinet discussed the matter today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said:

The Government welcomes the recommendation from the Low Pay Commission to increase the national minimum wage by 30c to €9.55 per hour. It would work out as a €12 increase in a full 40 hour week. 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, and the second under this Government, and a further step towards the Programme for Government commitment for a minimum wage of €10.50.

The Government wants everyone to have an opportunity to share in the ongoing recovery. Increasing the minimum wage will help to achieve that goal by providing an absolute minimum for earnings. We intend to formally respond to the Report this autumn, including its recommendations regarding employers’ PRSI, in the context of Budget 2018.